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Tri-State Opens With Vassar Win

  • 11 Sep 2021
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Vassar’s Kira Nolan / Vassar Athletics Photo

Albany, N.Y. – The first conference game of 2021-22 bore witness to a lot of nervousness from all the players. The recent history of this match-up suggested that Vassar was favored but it has always been a hard hitting and competitive game. It didn’t help when Vassar’s starting scrumhalf, Mia Walsh, sent a text to the coach stating she would be unavailable as a precautionary measure with regard to Covid. It was a very responsible decision by the senior but it did mean a reshuffle and a few more butterflies in the stomach!

Vassar College Women 68 v 0 University at Albany WomenTries: Emily Howell (5), Vivika Sheppard (4), Lauren Showalter (1), Asia Baker (1), Marie Claire Cicenia (1).Cons: Kira Nolan (4).

Vassar won the toss and decided to kick-off to apply immediate pressure on the home team. The Brewers came flying out of the blocks and not only did they have territory but moments later possession of the ball. Senior Emily Howell, fresh on the back of 4 tries scored against the Alumnae last weekend, burst through and it was 5-0. It was just what the doctor had ordered and Vassar settled into a groove.

Both teams had a raft of rookies and this Fall that will be the case with the majority of teams in the country as Covid prevented play for the past 18 months. Those teams that have more seniors will probably benefit most, particularly if they are in decision making positions. Vassar fortunately has a nucleus and it showed so mistakes were kept to a minimum.

Kira Nolan was in the thick of the action for the full 80 minutes and has a black eye to prove it! She repeatedly got Vassar on the front foot and that allied to her organizing others around her was important throughout but most certainly early on.

At scrumhalf Julia Busby was outstanding with not only good distribution but also as a threat around the fringes of the ruck. Flanker and sometimes Number 8 Halle Hutchinson, one of those wily vets, set a wonderful example with her tackling producing a real cruncher in the last 5 minutes and the running of Emily Howell and Vivika Sheppard was just too much for Albany to handle. The Number 8 and fullback deserve praise for their decisive running and enthusiasm.

Vassar did show some good shape and even though some of the Albany tackling was found wanting and will no doubt improve, there were some well worked tries. The Vassar back division attack was well orchestrated by M.C. Cicenia who stayed calm despite pressure, more often than not because of players offside. In the second half she went to fullback so that rookie Maeve Smith could get game time at 10 and when the Albany fullback missed touch Cicenia gleefully caught the ball and scampered over for a try!

In the first half Vassar set out her stall and consistently got over the gain line and that allowed the backs some time and space. So often it was the basics done well that led to openings. Getting a couple of extra yards in contact, good ball placement or a well timed pass close to the defensive line and voilà opportunity knocked.

Sophomore Lauren Showalter dived over for Vassar’s third try following a succession of rucks. Rookie Asia Baker showed the Albany defense a clean pair of heels and it all added up to a convincing win.

There were areas in every component of the game where work is needed. The Brewers will need to vastly improve their restarts: be much stronger in contact; perform the chop tackle; and produce quicker ball at the breakdown. But all of these are well within their grasp.

Kudos is due to all the rookies who took the field today as they had their first taste of conference success.

Practice will be fun this week!Vassar College: 15 Vivika Sheppard 14 Clair Dwyer 13 Lauren Thompson 12 Kira Nolan 10 Marie Claire Cicenia 9 Julia Busby 1 Sophia Florida 2 Hannah Thompson 3 Asia Baker 4 Louise Ambler 5 Hannah Charlson 6 Lauren Showalter 7 Halle Hutchinson 8 Emily Howell. Subs: Gillian Ciaccio for Hannah Thompson, Casey Drake for Vivika Sheppard, Grace Skakel for Hannah Charlson, Sophie Tang for Lauren Showalter, Zoe Lynch for Lauren Thompson, Andie Authers for Emily Howell.

Overall record: 1-0

Next: Saturday, September 18, 2021

Vassar College Women at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Albany, NY KO 12:00 pm

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