Bobcats fall to Vassar 38-5

Bobcats Fall to Vassar 38-5
By Angelique Fiske, QBSN Staff Writer

After winning its first home game in program history 23-7 against Marist Oct. 2, the women’s rugby team lost to the Vassar Brewers on Sunday.  Despite holding opponents to an average of six points a game the past two games, the Bobcats gave up six tries in their 38-5 defeat.  The loss brings the Bobcats to 2-3, while the Brewers break even at 2-2. 

                In the first half, Vassar saw the in-goal area twice, senior O’Mara Taylor and junior Nicole Guerrero getting the tries for the Brewers.  The Bobcats only try came at the end of the first half on a risky play.  Rather than taking a penalty kick deep in Brewer territory, the Bobcats opted to punt the ball out of bounds and won the subsequent line-out.  With some offensive pressure, senior Alysha Andrews drove the ball in for the Bobcats’ lone score.  The try gave the Bobcats some momentum going into the half with a close score of 12-5. 

                Unfortunately for Quinnipiac, the energy fell short as the second half began, and Vassar’s presence on the field became increasingly dominant.  Guerrero got her second try of the afternoon, sophomore Margaret Kwateng scored two tries of her own, and freshman Emma Redden walked away with one.  Taylor converted four times in six opportunities, giving her twelve conversions on the season.

                “We came out slow. We weren’t winning the rucks,” said head coach Becky Carlson.  “Certainly the energy wasn’t there.”

                Despite the fact that the Bobcats didn’t get the win, there were still some valuable lessons to be learned as, for the first time ever, the team faces an opponent for the second time in a season when the Eastern Illinois Panthers come to Hamden. 

“They have a lot of speed and some good athletes. We’re certainly going to be working on defense,” said Carlson.   “Obviously from this game we learned a lot that we need to practice rucking.”

The first time the Bobcats faced the Panthers, they were shut out 24-0.  Given the noticeable lull in energy against the Brewers, the Bobcats have more to work on than defensive technique for the rematch.  Energy and motivation will be key as the season progresses. 

“It’s just one of those things.  You can’t flip a switch; either you have it or you don’t that day,” said Carlson.  “It’s tough to motivate a team that’s down, but they’ve got to do it themselves.  I can’t do it for them.”

The Oct. 15 contest between the Bobcats and Panthers will make for the second of three times the two face-off this season.