The USA Rugby DII Fall College Championship could not have asked for better semifinals than the ones that evolved today in Matthews, N.C. If there were favorites heading into the weekend, those odds certainly became irrelevant as two competitive games evolved.
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The day began with reigning champion Vassar College (read preview) and newcomer Colorado School of Mines (read preview). The Rocky Mountain champion showed no signs of intimidation and rallied around a voracious defense that was able to stifle the Brewers’ attack around the breakdown and turn over any slow support to the tackle.
That discipline showed itself early on as Mines sent a deep kickoff and quickly stole possession in the ruck. Vassar relieved that immediate threat after a penalty and booming Meg Martin kick to touch, but then Mines stole that set piece and built phases to the Vassar try line. No. 8 Evie Oglesby then took a quick tap penalty from 10 meters out for a bulldozing try after four minutes. Wing Joyce Kruger converted for the 7-0 lead, one that Mines would never relinquish.
“We really focused on defending the pick-and-go while being patient for our time and possession,” Mines assistant coach Andrea Prusinski talked game plan. “Scoring early was a huge confidence boost and showed that we were going to be a force.”
Vassar answered immediately and used a penalty to set up a lineout inside Mines’ 22. Martin did well to reign in a long throw-in and the ball moved to Molly Lynch – arguably the most dangerous ballcarrier in space – for a slicing sprint to the try line: 7-5 to Mines.
The Brewers consolidated their possession in tight but hard work from players like Raquel Lucero Schnell, Sophia Modar, Christina Baker, Abigail Jocke and Oglesby snuffed out much of that go-forward and was able to drive several ballcarriers into touch. Scrumhalf Morgan Walls was an inspiration and set the tone for poaching possession and attacking quickly through soft post defense. Flyhalf Piper Bailey was also superb in punishing slow support and moving the ball quickly.
Two quick tries occurred early in the second quarter, as Oglesby picked from an attacking scrum and offloaded to Walls. Then Lucero Schnell extended the team’s lead with a dive-over and Kruger’s conversion made it 19-5 that held through the half.
Vassar made a couple of tactical substitutions near the 30-minute mark, and the Brewers began playing with more width in the second half. Emma Manzella became more prevalent and her angled runs opened up the attack. After a stellar five-meter scrum, Caroline James actually scored a try but the official wasn’t positioned in time to see it. The territory and possession paid off shortly afterward, however, and Lynch added a second try: 19-10 to Mines.
“We talked about keeping defensive intensity up across the board until the 80th minute,” Prusinski recalled the focus for the second half. “I had no doubt that the fire in these girls was going to take the momentum back and fight even harder and finish with another try.”
Mines was able to hold onto possession for double-digit phases but Vassar was good about absorbing the attack. Manzella flew up off the line to shock the attack and force a turnover, but when scrumhalf Mia Walsh broke off the subsequent scrum for a big run, the support was slow. Bailey made the tackle and poach, and Mines moved quickly to put the ball in Oglesby’s hands for the try: 24-10.
Vassar kept fighting and moving the ball, which found Lynch for a weaving run inside Mines’ 10 meter. The fullback connected with outside center Alexa Mousley for the try: 24-15. The Brewers had more opportunities but the ball retention wasn’t there. At the death, scrumhalf Walls added a final try for the 29-15 win.
“It feels pretty awesome, and we celebrated for sure, but we know that we have more work to do tomorrow, as that’s been our goal,” Prusinski concluded.
Colorado School of Mines will face Winona State, which defeated the Coast Guard 42-36 in the other semifinal (stay tuned for match report), for the fall title.