Vassar 29, Marist 12

Vassar College Rugby
Saturday October 26, 2002
Poughkeepsie, NY

In a single word - CHAMPIONS!

There was hooting, hollering, hugs, high fives, and happy smiling faces all round at the end of the day at Vassar College Farm as the men's team won the Metropolitan New York Division I title for the first time ever! It was nip and tuck the whole way and in the end just 3 points separated the teams but Vassar's men were the worthy champions.

Saturday October 26, 2002
Semifinal Game
Vassar College Men 29 v Rutgers University Men 12
Tries: Joe Schumacher (1), Frank Sharpe (1), Christian Bruckhart (2), & Tony Baldor (1).
Cons: Brian Roach (1) & Tony Baldor (1).

Vassar faced off against rugby rival Rutgers in an early morning game which kicked-off at 9:00 am. The rainfall of the previous night and the continued drizzle meant that conditions were tricky and difficult. Vassar went up after just 5 minutes when Christian Bruckhart picked up from a scrum about 5 meters out, linked with Tony Baldor, who fed left wing Joe Schumacher for the simple try. But Rutgers responded with a deep kick and an awful clearance from Vassar fullback Jason Fotinatos allowed them to attack right down the middle and they punched over for a try under the posts. Rutgers led 7-5.

The Vassar fowards began to put together some excellent running off the fringes and from these sorties scored 2 tries. It was clear that the Brewers had this game under control and they maintained territorial and possession dominance until the last 10 minutes when they allowed Rutgers back in to the match. But for the Scarlet Knights aka Black Death it was far too little too late and Tony Baldor's try was the icing on the cake as Vassar advanced to the championship game 29-12 winners.

Team: 15 Jason Fotinatos 14 Joe Schumacher 13 Brian Roach 12 Max Marquardt 11 Bradley Gray 10 Sean Devendorf 9 Tony Baldor * 1 Sam Filler 2 Edwin Cintron 3 Evan Milliken 4 Jake McDougal 5 Jon Campbell 6 Chris Bedevian 7 Frank Sharpe 8 Christian Bruckhart Subs: Mike Esrick for Joe Schumacher, David McCarthy for Bradley Gray, Yi Guan for Evan Milliken

Saturday October 26, 2002
Championship Game
Vassar College Men 10 v USMMA Men 7
Tries: Frank Sharpe (1) & Tony Baldor (1).

The defending Met. NY Champions, USMMA Kings Point, had lost earlier in the year to Vassar by 13 points to 10 and so were under no illusions about the task in front of them. But the Merchant Mariners were confident that they had improved over the past 2 months and felt they could handle the Brewers this time around. What they didn't bargain for was a much more streetwise group of Vassar players who had also used the same time period to good effect! In a game that will long be remembered for the exciting atmosphere generated by a passionate crowd it was the start of the second half when Vassar were reduced to play with 14 against 15, that was heroic. Co-captain Christian Bruckhart, who had a massive day making play after play, was sinbinned for 10 minutes and Vassar who were down 7-5 could have folded like a plastic lawn chair. But the 14 rallied after an immediate 30 yard run by Frank Sharpe gave them inspiration, and they might well have scored a try. But just as important they didn't concede any points and when Bruckhart returned there was a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.

Vassar's first score came when Frank Sharpe continued his scoring spree with a powerful surge for the line and they led 5-0. USMMA then attacked in wave after wave and they set up basecamp on the Vassar line! The visitors went over twice only to be held up in-goal and then right on the stroke of halftime they did score and led 7-5 after the successful conversion.

"Go tell them in Sparta" is now rivalled by "And the 14 held strong" as Vassar weathered the first 10 minutes of the second half down a man. Then came the dramatic finish as Vassar pounded the USMMA line. A number of forward rushes were repelled and then in imp-like fashion Tony Baldor scored a captain's try as he quite literally burrowed over the line in the corner. A roar went up from the crowd of foul weather fans and there were 10 minutes left in the game. Sean Devendorf at standoff and Max Marquardt were as staedy as rocks. Freshman Bradley Gray had a few scary moments but was also made some clutch plays. Brian Roach came through big with a crucial tackle and every player to a man stood up and was counted.
There were numerous other great individual moments in such a close game as players made last ditch tackles, the forwards drove lineouts upfield, and the backs broke their rule of a 2-pass maximum! In the end it was a huge team effort that kept the lead and the squad earned the Met. NY Men's Collegiate Division I Championship.

Congratulations to the entire squad for their hard core effort and even more impressive will to win.
A very special thanks to all the family and friends who supported the team today, not least our Alumni and the current women's team. Thank you sincerely one and all.

Team: 15 Jason Fotinatos 14 Mike Esrick 13 Brian Roach 12 Max Marquardt 11 Bradley Gray 10 Sean Devendorf 9 Tony Baldor * 1 Sam Filler 2 Edwin Cintron 3 Evan Milliken 4 Jake McDougal 5 Jon Campbell 6 Chris Bedevian 7 Frank Sharpe 8 Christian Bruckhart

Vassar College Men's Rugby Record: 7-1-0 overall (6-1-0 Met NY).



	Met. NY Division I Champions 2002 Vassar College Rugby Saturday October 26, 2002 Poughkeepsie, NY In a single word - CHAMPIONS! There was hooting, hollering, hugs, high fives, and happy smiling faces all round at the end of the day at Vassar College Farm as the men's team won the Metropolitan New York Division I title for the first time ever! It was nip and tuck the whole way and in the end just 3 points separated the teams but Vassar's men were the worthy champions. Saturday October 26, 2002 Semifinal Game Vassar College Men 29 v Rutgers University Men 12 Tries: Joe Schumacher (1), Frank Sharpe (1), Christian Bruckhart (2), & Tony Baldor (1). Cons: Brian Roach (1) & Tony Baldor (1). Vassar faced off against rugby rival Rutgers in an early morning game which kicked-off at 9:00 am. The rainfall of the previous night and the continued drizzle meant that conditions were tricky and difficult. Vassar went up after just 5 minutes when Christian Bruckhart picked up from a scrum about 5 meters out, linked with Tony Baldor, who fed left wing Joe Schumacher for the simple try. But Rutgers responded with a deep kick and an awful clearance from Vassar fullback Jason Fotinatos allowed them to attack right down the middle and they punched over for a try under the posts. Rutgers led 7-5. The Vassar fowards began to put together some excellent running off the fringes and from these sorties scored 2 tries. It was clear that the Brewers had this game under control and they maintained territorial and possession dominance until the last 10 minutes when they allowed Rutgers back in to the match. But for the Scarlet Knights aka Black Death it was far too little too late and Tony Baldor's try was the icing on the cake as Vassar advanced to the championship game 29-12 winners. Team: 15 Jason Fotinatos 14 Joe Schumacher 13 Brian Roach 12 Max Marquardt 11 Bradley Gray 10 Sean Devendorf 9 Tony Baldor * 1 Sam Filler 2 Edwin Cintron 3 Evan Milliken 4 Jake McDougal 5 Jon Campbell 6 Chris Bedevian 7 Frank Sharpe 8 Christian Bruckhart Subs: Mike Esrick for Joe Schumacher, David McCarthy for Bradley Gray, Yi Guan for Evan Milliken Saturday October 26, 2002 Championship Game Vassar College Men 10 v USMMA Men 7 Tries: Frank Sharpe (1) & Tony Baldor (1). The defending Met. NY Champions, USMMA Kings Point, had lost earlier in the year to Vassar by 13 points to 10 and so were under no illusions about the task in front of them. But the Merchant Mariners were confident that they had improved over the past 2 months and felt they could handle the Brewers this time around. What they didn't bargain for was a much more streetwise group of Vassar players who had also used the same time period to good effect! In a game that will long be remembered for the exciting atmosphere generated by a passionate crowd it was the start of the second half when Vassar were reduced to play with 14 against 15, that was heroic. Co-captain Christian Bruckhart, who had a massive day making play after play, was sinbinned for 10 minutes and Vassar who were down 7-5 could have folded like a plastic lawn chair. But the 14 rallied after an immediate 30 yard run by Frank Sharpe gave them inspiration, and they might well have scored a try. But just as important they didn't concede any points and when Bruckhart returned there was a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. Vassar's first score came when Frank Sharpe continued his scoring spree with a powerful surge for the line and they led 5-0. USMMA then attacked in wave after wave and they set up basecamp on the Vassar line! The visitors went over twice only to be held up in-goal and then right on the stroke of halftime they did score and led 7-5 after the successful conversion. "Go tell them in Sparta" is now rivalled by "And the 14 held strong" as Vassar weathered the first 10 minutes of the second half down a man. Then came the dramatic finish as Vassar pounded the USMMA line. A number of forward rushes were repelled and then in imp-like fashion Tony Baldor scored a captain's try as he quite literally burrowed over the line in the corner. A roar went up from the crowd of foul weather fans and there were 10 minutes left in the game. Sean Devendorf at standoff and Max Marquardt were as staedy as rocks. Freshman Bradley Gray had a few scary moments but was also made some clutch plays. Brian Roach came through big with a crucial tackle and every player to a man stood up and was counted. There were numerous other great individual moments in such a close game as players made last ditch tackles, the forwards drove lineouts upfield, and the backs broke their rule of a 2-pass maximum! In the end it was a huge team effort that kept the lead and the squad earned the Met. NY Men's Collegiate Division I Championship. Congratulations to the entire squad for their hard core effort and even more impressive will to win. A very special thanks to all the family and friends who supported the team today, not least our Alumni and the current women's team. Thank you sincerely one and all. Team: 15 Jason Fotinatos 14 Mike Esrick 13 Brian Roach 12 Max Marquardt 11 Bradley Gray 10 Sean Devendorf 9 Tony Baldor * 1 Sam Filler 2 Edwin Cintron 3 Evan Milliken 4 Jake McDougal 5 Jon Campbell 6 Chris Bedevian 7 Frank Sharpe 8 Christian Bruckhart Vassar College Men's Rugby Record: 7-1-0 overall (6-1-0 Met NY).