Michelle Urrutia / Photos courtesy Vassar Athletics
Vassar returns for the third-straight year to the USA Rugby DII College Fall Championship, the final phase of which occurs Dec. 2-3 at Furman University in Greenville, S.C. The Brewers return numbers and experience, and gave reigning champion Davenport University – now in Division I – a run last year. The New York team is a viable candidate for this year’s fall title.
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“When you return 10-11 regular starting players, you have a core of a team that knows what they’re doing. They’ve been there and done it – almost done it, I should say,” Vassar coach Tony Brown said. “We’ve returned a hard-working group, and they’re all a year older, a year more experienced.”
Senior Abby Alexander / Photo: Vassar Athletics
The team, which nears 50 players, is led by three senior captains: No. 8 Amanda Saich, lock Claire Fondrie-Teitler and center Alicia Menard-Livingston. They drove an undefeated league season and post-season, but the Brewers did not go untested. Albany and Marist continue to be strong competitors, often keeping the first-half score of their games within single digits. Marist, which finished third in the conference, advanced to the fall quarterfinals and gave Coast Guard the best test of its season in a 22-0 loss. It’s a credit to the league’s strength.
Senior captain Alicia Menard-Livingtson / Photo: Vassar Athletics
The Brewers bested Roger Williams by 65 points in the Fall Round of 32, and then reported to Kutztown University last weekend to face New England Small College champion Colby in the Round of 16. Muddy, slippery conditions were the main opposition, and handling issues stymied both sides. Vassar took a 10-0 lead as flankers Oshana Reich and Sarah Mawhinney scored.
“Though Vassar kept the offensive pressure on and dominated possession, Colby held their own and made some positive yards through quick picks and great support in contact when the opportunity presented itself,” Colby coach Susan Childers recounted. “Finally, about halfway through the first half, Colby center Emma Hofman got by the Vassar defense on the outside and ran it in approximately 40 meters for the first and only score … and showing that Colby was playing to win.”
Junior scrumhalf Jennie To / Photo: Vassar Athletics
Vassar scored before the break for a 15-5 halftime lead.
“Despite some determined runs by prop Jess Edlund, No. 8 Clare Stephens, flanker Elissa Guerra, flyhalf Laura Wu and wing Anna Braverman, mistakes by Colby and the solid defense of Vassar kept Colby from capitalizing on the opportunities,” Childers continued. “Colby recognized a weakness in the Vassar defense and changed tactics by using a kicking game, and though it allowed Colby advancement, the Vassar defense held strong. The scored remained the same for most of the second half before the dominant Vassar forwards drove in back-to-back tries in the final 10 minutes of the game.”
Senior captain Amanda Saich / Photo: Vassar Athletics
The Brewers triumphed 25-5 and readied for Buffalo State, which defeated Bryant University 25-15 on Saturday. Some drama preceded the fall quarterfinal, as the field conditions necessitated a move to Kutztown’s football turf field, which lacked all the proper markings and dimensions befitting a rugby pitch. Vassar details the issue here, but the game did eventually take place, and the Brewers held the Banshees to a try in each half during the 49-12 win. Mawhinney scored two tries, while Makena Emery added nine points on a try and two conversions. Saich, Reich, Jennie To, Kaitlin Prado, Elaina Peterkin and Michelle Urrutia also dotted down.
Senior captain Claire Fondrie-Teitler / Photo: Vassar Athletics
Vassar has advanced to the previous two fall semifinals, and last year gave eventual national champion Davenport University a big push in a 47-32 loss.
“We had a great shot against Davenport last year,” Brown reflected. “You get to the finals and you have to defend 7-10 phases, and you’re not used to doing it. I said that to the Davenport coach last year – this is the first game we’ve had to play any serious defense – and he said the same. It’s an issue the way it’s all played out. With some good teams in NIRA and Division I, and some in the spring now, we have lopsided games [with the segmentation of teams].
Junior flanker Oshana Reich / Photo: Vassar Athletics
“I feel fairly confident that we can do well,” the coach added. “The danger with coaching, you look at the potential of the team, and if everyone plays well, then you get the result you want. The reality is that all players don’t all play well on the same day.”
The fall semifinal match-ups have not been officially confirmed, but Vassar will be joined by 2016 returners Winona State (read more) and Coast Guard, as well as Cincinnati. See the full bracket for a recap on how the teams advanced through playoffs.