Vassar 27, Fordham 0

Mud Glorious Mud!

At the end of each game you could hardly tell the difference between the teams save for the smiles on the faces of the Vassar College Brewers! Covered head to toe in mud the men and women's teams clinched Met NY playoff spots. The men will play next Saturday in the quarterfinal and be at home, while the women have one more regular season game and then will play in the semifinal the following weekend.

Thank you to all the players who stayed to play this weekend at the start of their Fall Break. Also a very special thank you to the Vassar support staff, the trainers and facilities personnel, who worked hard on a horrible wet and windy day at the Farm.

Saturday October 12, 2002
Vassar College Women 27 v Fordham University Women 0
Tries: Julie Half (2), Sari Warren (2), & Val Griffeth (1).
Cons: Valerie Griffeth (1).

On a miserable grey and wet day with constant rainfall Vassar faced Fordham University women who were in a bouyant mood. The visiting Rams were 3-0 and hadn't conceded a single point in those 3 divisional contests and were expecting to give Vassar a real run for their money. Indeed it was tough in the early going as Vassar failed to run with pace off the fringes and that coupled with a few dropped passes and some dubious refereeing decisions kept matters close.

But for the most part it was Vassar asking the questions and Fordham defending valiantly. Senior co-captain Julie Half broke the deadlock when she ran strongly from the base of a 5-meter scrummage on to a well timed Darcy Nelson pass and that made it 5-0. The next try was most deserved as hooker Sari Warren ploughed over from 10 yards out and Vassar had the cushion they needed on an unforgiving day. Warren has played second row, prop, and hooker for the "A" team and is a savvy forward who proved particularly effective today.

The Vassar backs were not really clicking in the first half as first Val Griffeth decided to kick ahead when no-one was within 25 yards of her and the ball ran in-goal. Julia Rosen cut back and was robbed of the ball and even speedster Dana Wasserman was held in check.

The second half saw a team renaissance as the forwards battered their way upfield making huge inroads through the Fordham defence. The lineouts were driven, and kept driving, as they sheered this way and that at one point completely fooling the defenders and Vassar were penalised for having a flying wedge! The backs too found some rhythm and moved the ball with more precision and directness. It was a difficult day for the front row as Fordham were very timid and refused to scrummage hard but the slippery footing made it tough for Vassar to drive without them collapsing, so they settle for stability and possession.

Julie Half scored from a quick tapped penalty, her usual 3 yards scamper! Val Griffeth showed her strength in contact as she bulldozed over a lone defender after some good handling in the backline. Then it was that utility player again, Sari Warren, who got her second from a driven lineout. All in all a very satisfying day as the Brewers head into a tough double next weekend against Stony Brook and Columbia.

Team: 15 Valerie Griffeth 14 Dana Wasserman 13 Jess Johnson 12 Sarah Turbett 11 Nadia Brittingham 10 Julia Rosen 9 Julie Half 1 Hannah Van Winkle 2 Sari Warren 3 Cristy Shumaker 4 Vanessa Morris 5 Kirsten Naito 6 Killian Dykes 7 Emerald Garvey 8 Darcy Nelson Subs: Sarah Powelson for Cristy Shumaker & Emily Dorman for Sarah Turbett

Saturday October 12, 2002
Vassar College Women "B" 20 v Fordham University Women "B" 0
Tries: Dana Wasserman (1), Danielle Bayar (2), & Vanessa Morris (1).

The start of Fall Break meant that Vassar was without many squad players so a few had to play a second time. Once the decision had been made to wear clean and dry jerseys everything fell into place. The scrumage was solid, the rucking looked good and the handling was way above average given the deteriorating conditions.

Fullback Danielle Bayar had a breakout game scoring two textbook tries. The first was after Val Griffeth had stepped around her opposite number and made a good pass, and the second after quick hands set the fullback away from 50 yards. She had no choice but to finish it herself as wing Dana Wasserman kept shouting, "Run! Run! Run!" and that she did.

At the half Killian Dykes made her debut as a left wing and Emerald Garvey filled in at outside center. Both will be happy to return to the confines of the pack now and no doubt have a great deal more empthy for their backline sisters! The other scores were Dana Wasserman and Vanessa Morris who toiled long and hard and were finally rewarded.

Team: 15 Danielle Bayar 14 Ai ito 13 Val Griffeth 12 Julie Half 11 Dana Wasserman 10 Jess Werner 9 Emily Dorman 1 Jess Fyles 2 Sari Warren 3 Sarah Powelson 4 Kirsten Naito 5 Darcy Nelson 6 Miriam Walter 7 Jen Corliss 8 Vanessa Morris Subs: Killian Dykes for Dana Wasserman & Emerald Garvey for Val Griffeth



	Fiesty Fordham Find No Joy at the Farm Mud Glorious Mud! At the end of each game you could hardly tell the difference between the teams save for the smiles on the faces of the Vassar College Brewers! Covered head to toe in mud the men and women's teams clinched Met NY playoff spots. The men will play next Saturday in the quarterfinal and be at home, while the women have one more regular season game and then will play in the semifinal the following weekend. Thank you to all the players who stayed to play this weekend at the start of their Fall Break. Also a very special thank you to the Vassar support staff, the trainers and facilities personnel, who worked hard on a horrible wet and windy day at the Farm. Saturday October 12, 2002 Vassar College Women 27 v Fordham University Women 0 Tries: Julie Half (2), Sari Warren (2), & Val Griffeth (1). Cons: Valerie Griffeth (1). On a miserable grey and wet day with constant rainfall Vassar faced Fordham University women who were in a bouyant mood. The visiting Rams were 3-0 and hadn't conceded a single point in those 3 divisional contests and were expecting to give Vassar a real run for their money. Indeed it was tough in the early going as Vassar failed to run with pace off the fringes and that coupled with a few dropped passes and some dubious refereeing decisions kept matters close. But for the most part it was Vassar asking the questions and Fordham defending valiantly. Senior co-captain Julie Half broke the deadlock when she ran strongly from the base of a 5-meter scrummage on to a well timed Darcy Nelson pass and that made it 5-0. The next try was most deserved as hooker Sari Warren ploughed over from 10 yards out and Vassar had the cushion they needed on an unforgiving day. Warren has played second row, prop, and hooker for the "A" team and is a savvy forward who proved particularly effective today. The Vassar backs were not really clicking in the first half as first Val Griffeth decided to kick ahead when no-one was within 25 yards of her and the ball ran in-goal. Julia Rosen cut back and was robbed of the ball and even speedster Dana Wasserman was held in check. The second half saw a team renaissance as the forwards battered their way upfield making huge inroads through the Fordham defence. The lineouts were driven, and kept driving, as they sheered this way and that at one point completely fooling the defenders and Vassar were penalised for having a flying wedge! The backs too found some rhythm and moved the ball with more precision and directness. It was a difficult day for the front row as Fordham were very timid and refused to scrummage hard but the slippery footing made it tough for Vassar to drive without them collapsing, so they settle for stability and possession. Julie Half scored from a quick tapped penalty, her usual 3 yards scamper! Val Griffeth showed her strength in contact as she bulldozed over a lone defender after some good handling in the backline. Then it was that utility player again, Sari Warren, who got her second from a driven lineout. All in all a very satisfying day as the Brewers head into a tough double next weekend against Stony Brook and Columbia. Team: 15 Valerie Griffeth 14 Dana Wasserman 13 Jess Johnson 12 Sarah Turbett 11 Nadia Brittingham 10 Julia Rosen 9 Julie Half 1 Hannah Van Winkle 2 Sari Warren 3 Cristy Shumaker 4 Vanessa Morris 5 Kirsten Naito 6 Killian Dykes 7 Emerald Garvey 8 Darcy Nelson Subs: Sarah Powelson for Cristy Shumaker & Emily Dorman for Sarah Turbett Saturday October 12, 2002 Vassar College Women "B" 20 v Fordham University Women "B" 0 Tries: Dana Wasserman (1), Danielle Bayar (2), & Vanessa Morris (1). The start of Fall Break meant that Vassar was without many squad players so a few had to play a second time. Once the decision had been made to wear clean and dry jerseys everything fell into place. The scrumage was solid, the rucking looked good and the handling was way above average given the deteriorating conditions. Fullback Danielle Bayar had a breakout game scoring two textbook tries. The first was after Val Griffeth had stepped around her opposite number and made a good pass, and the second after quick hands set the fullback away from 50 yards. She had no choice but to finish it herself as wing Dana Wasserman kept shouting, "Run! Run! Run!" and that she did. At the half Killian Dykes made her debut as a left wing and Emerald Garvey filled in at outside center. Both will be happy to return to the confines of the pack now and no doubt have a great deal more empthy for their backline sisters! The other scores were Dana Wasserman and Vanessa Morris who toiled long and hard and were finally rewarded. Team: 15 Danielle Bayar 14 Ai ito 13 Val Griffeth 12 Julie Half 11 Dana Wasserman 10 Jess Werner 9 Emily Dorman 1 Jess Fyles 2 Sari Warren 3 Sarah Powelson 4 Kirsten Naito 5 Darcy Nelson 6 Miriam Walter 7 Jen Corliss 8 Vanessa Morris Subs: Killian Dykes for Dana Wasserman & Emerald Garvey for Val Griffeth