CGA Takes Rematch at Northeasts

Yoquinto and Jude Employ Push ME Pull YOU Tactics
Harasimowicz Photo

Midd Drops Close Game in the Muck at Batavia

Batavia New York, Nov 12, 2006: In this year’s second meeting (the grudge match) between the Coast Guard and Middlebury College the Bears bested the Panthers by their biggest margin of victory ever - a whopping six points. Both teams slogged it out on a rain-soaked and battered pitch and at the end Middlebury was left holding the wee end of a 11- 5 final score, again short of their goal of beating the Academy twice in the same year.


White (L) Stripping, Harasimowicz (Middle) Getting Stripped
Harasimowicz Photo

Coming off their brilliant win in the New England’s (I don’t think the Coast Guard has EVER beaten Middlebury in the NERFU conference finals -quick, get my statistician in here…) Middlebury was focused and ready for the rematch. Somehow though, the Northeast Regional tournament holds a special kind of ‘kick it up a notch’ juju for the Academy ruggers. They once again held on to their slim lead, scoring a couple of late game penalty kicks to win their fourth straight Northeast Championship, their third against Middlebury.


Matt Volz on FINE Double Leg Take-Down (Too Bad it Ain't
Scored Like Wrestling) Harasimowicz Photo


Meany Receives the "Hey Moe!" From Coast Guard Player Harasimowicz Photo

And so it has gone lately: Midd wins Conference and CGA wins Northeasts. More to follow.

UVM Goes Three and Out; MCRC Advances

Wilson '07 Slips Away Early Harasimowicz Photo

For Middlebury It's 'Off To Batavia'

November 5, 2006, Middlebury, VT
Northeast Rugby Union quarterfinal action got underway on Saturday November 4 as the #1 seeded unbeaten Middlebury Panthers took on the #8 seeded University of Vermont Catamounts for the third time this season. NRU quarterfinal competition is the 'one and done' time of year; you win, you advance -you lose, season over, you go home, hang up your cleats and meditate. Middlebury cruised to a 48-15 win –their third straight this season over the Catamounts to advance to the next round in Batavia, New York. No meditating just yet.

In this latest round UVM came out strong and scored first. Middlebury quickly regrouped and scored on the first of many long trying runs of the day. As if on script, Middlebury executed some of their typical unselfish team ball with several fine performances. Center Pascal Losambe ’07 continued to run with authority in his second game back to full action following extensive knee rehab. Mike McKenna (Middlebury’s VP of Communications and team academic advisor) was back on the sidelines and describes the difficulty tacklers face with Pascal.


Losambe '07 on Full Rinse Cycle Harasimowicz Photo

“With the field still greasy, it made it even harder to tackle him,” said MeKenna of Pascal’s running. “On a couple of breaks it was as if UVM's players were trying to bring down a Maytag washing machine moving at twenty miles an hour on full rinse cycle. Hard to get a grip on.” There is a compelling image for you. Watch out for the kids with that action is in the house.


Dellarocca '07 and Yoquinto '08 Scramble For Loose Ball
Harasimowicz Photo

I know we gotta’ cut Mike some slack here, but so far, Pascal is the only name he has learned. So I will add, in brackets, the name of the players most likely to have been the folks Mike was talking about in his discussion below.
“The units within the team were also very efficient,” said McKenna. “Wings [Losambe and Spencer Cox or maybe Craig Wilson] and fullback [Ari Silverman], back row of flankers [Jimmy Manyuru the forwards captain and Chas Wirene] and the 8 [Trey Stewart] and the two halfbacks [scrum half Max Levine and fly half/backs captain Matt Volz] all worked very well together. The scrum half [Levine] scored two nice, opportunistic tries, and his fly half [Volz] made good choices all day.”


Strong Forwards Action Early in Match Harasimowicz Photo

“I am also very impressed with the front five in the scrum,” said McKenna. [Front five include the seasoned props rotating among Sean Meany and Alex White and JJ Jude, the hooker Joe Dellarocca and the locks, Luke Yoquinto and Pat Mott] “Not the biggest kids, but well oiled and productive. All the Midds also tackled very well all day forcing the [UVM] Cats to pass too quickly to avoid contact. Without looping, they continually left their poor wings pinned on the sidelines with no support and they were cooked.”


Midd's Mott Powers Through Harasimowicz Photo

The field conditions would drive a grounds keeper to the bottle but by now the players seem to take it in stride. Weather and field conditions ‘just perfect for a fun run in the mud’ as Coach Ward has said before. Said McKenna, “At the end of the day all the players on both sides were again covered in mud, making [it] look like one of those tribal rituals in Borneo where they wear the dried clay masks.” Ah, yes – dried clay mask rituals.


A Textbook Shot of Mud Rugby Harasimowicz Photo

McKenna commented on the team camaraderie -something long time Friends of Rugby regulars have come to expect. “I left the game thinking that this is a team that really PLAYS the game with a lot of joy,” said McKenna. “there is a sense they are having fun and enjoying one another's successes. It is great to watch.”

On the games coming this weekend at Northeasts, senior Chas Wirene is confident. “Don’t worry, this team is out to play and won’t let any of these guys get in our way.”

Ain’t that the truth.

In the other Northeast Rugby quarterfinals matches on Saturday November 4, #2 seeded Vassar of the Metropolitan New York Union, were 71-31 winners over the #7 seed Geneseo of the New York State Conference and the #3 seed US Coast Guard Academy beat down the #6 seed Seton Hall (also out of Met New York) 52-3. In the closest match of the quarterfinals, #5 seed University of Maine –Orono out of the New England Union defeated #4 seed SUNY Albany 18-16 to advance.

With their win, Middlebury has for the eigth consecutive year reached the Northeast Territorial semifinals and will next face University of Maine-Orono in their semi-final match on Saturday, November 11 in Batavia, NY. Game time is scheduled for 1:00pm on Field 3 at the venue -but this could change.

The winner will advance to Sunday’s finals against the winner of the semifinal match between US Coast Guard Academy and Vassar College. Brackets and pairings for all the competition at the championships in Batavia can be found by clicking here.


Max Levine '09 Scores Final Try of Match Harasimowicz Photo

Next UP:
Sponsored by the Genesee Creamers Rugby Club this year's Northeast Rugby Union Territorial Collegiate finals are being held at Genesee Community College, part of the SUNY system, in Batavia, New York. Better start driving now, because this place is in the Wild West –midway between Buffalo and Rochester. (368 miles from NYC and 125 mi from Toronto.) The GCC venue will host all of the Northeast Territory Division I, II, and III play.

Driving directions to the Genesee Community College can be found by clicking here.
Accomodations and other information can be found on the Northeast Rugby Union website.
The Northeast Territory College Championships 2006 event schedule can be found here.

The Rock vs. The Hard Place

Middlebury 2006 NERFU Champs

Jimmy Manyuru ’07 Takes Down CGA Runner – Trey Stewart Supports
Harasimowicz Photo

“Nice way to end the weekend,” says Mike McKenna

The Middlebury College Rugby Club, competing against league rival US Coast Guard Academy scored first and never trailed in their New England Rugby Football Union championship match held Sunday, October 29 at Middlebury.

The defending 2005 New England RFU champions MCRC knew at the beginning of the season that they would have to go through USCGA to repeat as New England champs in ’06. As the fans have come to expect, the Panthers stepped up their game against the conditioned, disciplined CGA squad under typical post season conditions.


Losambe '07 Returns to Action Harasimowicz Photo

On a rain-soaked, greasy pitch described by Coach Patterson as “muddy to the point of silly” the MCRC held the 2006 Division II National Champion CGA to a 8-8 tie for more than 20 minutes of second-half play. In the 78th minute the go-ahead try was scored by senior Pat Mott on an assist by Max Levine ’09. Though the two-point conversion kick failed MCRC had momentum and the clock in their favor and won the match 13-8.


Mott '07 Scores Winning Try On Last Dry Ground
Harasimowicz Photo

The fans were treated to a superb game under challenging conditions. With first half winds howling, intermittent rain and a 39 degree temperature Middlebury came out blazing. “We attacked with the wind at our backs and earned an early try to go up 5 -0,” said Coach Patterson. The try was unconverted. Middlebury scored again in the first on a 3 point penalty kick from former Midd soccer player turned rugger Ari Silverman ’09. Middlebury held an 8-0 advantage. CGA regrouped and scored late in the first period and trailed at the half, 8-5.

A newcomer to the Friends of Rugby, Middlebury’s Mike McKenna (the College's VP of Communications and) is faculty advisor to the team, and a long-time rugby supporter and former player. He offered insight to the weekend tournament that began on Saturday with semi-final play. “The field conditions were a key reason both finalists made it through to the championship game over heavier, SUV-sized sides from UVM and Maine [Orono], who could not get the tire traction or match the fitness of their opponents wading through the paddock,” said McKenna.

He concluded, “The Coasties were a great side…quick, resolute… but in the end they couldn't equal the cohesion and pace of Middlebury.”


Luke Yoquinto Startes Long Run Harasimowicz Photo

In the second half play see-sawed and CGA kicked effectively with the wind keeping Middlebury backed up. Parent Ike Levine describes it: “Second half into the wind, and Coast Guard’s only weapon was to punt deep. Fortunately for us, the ball would die in the muck… we would advance, advance, advance and then they would kick us back.”

In the 59th minute Trey Stewart received his second yellow card from repeated infractions and was ejected from the game forcing Middlebury to play short-handed. Coast Guard quickly scored on a penalty kick to tie the match. Home-field advantage became a factor. “The crowd intensity lifted which in turn lifted [Middlebury] to a level in which only deep down character in each player could provide,” said Levine. The Coasties couldn’t capitalize though and had limited success moving the ball after that. “Every time the coast guard backs touched the ball they went backwards to [Midd’s] inspired back play defense. We pushed them back and back and back and with only minutes to go, Max Levine took a ball out of ruck short side …faked a pass and drew the defense to him and then laid off a pass [to Pat Mott] for the winning score,” said Ike. The conditions hampered the backs from both squads but there was “determined play and only a minimum of knockons by Middlebury. Forwards were magnificant in both the loose and tight play,” said Levine.


Alex White and the Color of Mud Harasimowicz Photo

The fans saw a limited return of the brilliant runner Pascal Losambe ‘07, who has been out for much of the season due to MCL injury. The rugged play took its toll on key personnel. Senior Jeff Harasimowicz, ready after two previous years of having to watch this championship match from the sidelines (broken nose in ’04, hamstring tear ’05) played his characteristically inspired hard ball in the first half of the match. But he suffered a nasty knee-blow to the head and was out with a concussion for the second half. Though disappointed, and mending well he will be out of action for Northeast quarterfinals match this weekend. He looks to return soon after. Muchadei Zvoma was hobbled by a rolled an ankle in the match as well.


The Faces of Champions Harasimowicz Photo

The fans of DII rugby have come to anticipate that the MCRC/CGA divisional rivalry signals the march toward the National tournament in May. For the last five years these two teams have traded NERFU championships and always returned to face each other in the Northeast Union competition that follows the NERFU regional play. They are arguably the two most consistently coached and matched up teams as can be found in College rugby. Their matches are tactical struggles that test the nerves of all involved -and what else would you want? Comfortable wins? Blow-out scoring? Nahhh. Bring on the post-season and more Coast Guards. Well done MCRC and good luck in the next CGA match-up. I trust it won't too long.

Man of the Match voting: “I would give man of the match to the whole team. You don't beat a tough opponent on a challenging field in horrible weather without all of the first 15 plus needed reserves contributing," said Mike McKenna.


DII New England Rugby Football Union Champs!
Harasimowicz Photo

Can I get a AMEN?

Next Up: The Northeast Rugby Union territorial championships begin November 4 at 1:00pm at Middlebury with Quarterfinal action and conclude on November 11-12 in Batavia, New York at Genessee Community College.

With their win today, Middlebury has become the NRU #1 seed and will host the #8 seed University of Vermont at Middlebury. Game time is 1:00pm. Despite two wins thus far over UVM, MCRC has a lot of respect for this considerable opponent. Matt Volz ’07 notes, “They're a good group of guys, and they play hard. So, we're all expecting a hard-fought game.”