Junior Lindsay Kantor won her flight at the New York State championships last month. Photo courtesy Vassar College Athletics.

The Sports Page

The Brewers continued a strong fall season, with notable performances across many of the programs.

Cross Country
At the Connecticut College Invitational on October 15, the men placed sixth out of 14 teams. Senior Zach Williams finished an impressive eighth overall in a field of 211 runners. It was a strong showing for the team, which was missing two of its top five runners. That same day, the women repeated as the winners of the Seven Sisters Cross Country Championship. Vassar placed five runners in the top 10 at the 30th annual running of the 5K race. Junior Kelly Holmes finished second overall in a field of 102 runners.

Field Hockey
The women snapped a two game losing streak with a convincing 3-0 win over Elms College on October 12. They headed into October fall break with an even 6-6 record.

Golf
Vassar’s women finished third out of six teams at the Ann S. Batchelder Invitational at Wellesley College on October 16. On day two of the two-day tournament, junior Nicole Bronson shot a 75, the best score of the day and second best of the tournament.

Rowing
The men’s and women’s teams both fielded boats at the Head of the Housatonic meet on October 8. Although they didn’t capture a victory, the men’s boats put in their strongest showing in years at the competitive event. The women did well, too. In the fours competition, Vassar captured second place, ahead of Hofstra and NYU, and behind only Coast Guard.

Rugby
The playoffs are looming for both the men and women. The Metropolitan New York Rugby Football Union Division II playoffs took place on October 30, as this issue went to press. The winner will advance to the Northeast regionals later this month. On the men’s side (pictured), three teams—including Vassar—sat at the top of the standings with 5-1 records, clinching a spot in the October 30 playoffs for the Brewers. Headed into their final regular season match (against SUNY New Paltz) on October 23, the men had scored 217 points against opponents while ceding just 89 for the season. The women, meanwhile, were sitting in second place with a 3-2 record, all but assured a spot in the playoffs as well. As of mid-October, they had scored 197 points against opponents this season, while giving up just 84.

Soccer
The men remained in the playoff hunt, despite a stretch of three consecutive losses, including a 2-0 shutout against No. 15 nationally ranked Hobart College. The women faced similarly difficult competition, losing 1-0 to No. 2 nationally ranked William Smith College.

Tennis
The men’s and women’s teams both sent players to the ITA National Small College Championships last month. Senior Ben Guzick and his brother, junior Andrew Guzick, finished sixth among eight regional champs in doubles play. They are just the second doubles team to ever advance to the event for the Brewers, and the first team to win a round at the event. In addition, freshman and Northeast regional champ Ava Sadeghi (pictured) competed in singles play, earning All American honors. It is the ninth time in program history that a Brewer has earned that distinction. Meanwhile, the rest of the women’s program was at the 13-team New York State Championships. All three doubles teams and two singles advanced to their respective finals. Junior Lindsay Kantor won her No. 4 flight final, defeating Skidmore’s Molly Nolan 6-2, 6-2.

Volleyball
On October 14 the women’s team split two league matches, losing to Skidmore but toppling Union. The results keep the Brewers in the playoff hunt, with 16-11 overall and 6-6 league records.

Alumnae/i Matches
Not to be outdone by the current generation of student athletes at Vassar, alumni from the men’s baseball team and alumnae and alumni from the women’s and men’s fencing teams returned to campus for alumnae/i matches against their fellow Brewers.

On October 8, 15 alumni returned to face off against the 2011-12 Brewers in a 9-inning game of baseball. The Varsity Brewers pulled off a 10-5 victory over the Alumni Brewers.

Earlier in the month, Vassar hosted the seventh annual Men's and Women's Fencing Alumni Match. Alumnae/i from a range of classes returned to do battle with sabre, epee, and foil against the current team members. The Brewers largely ruled the day. However, Alex Snow '09 took first place in men's sabre.

Men's Foil medalists, with alumni coach Christina Massiala-Vaka (left) and Bruce Gillman (right).

A view of the action.

Women's Sabre medalists, with alumnae coach Matt Lampell (left) and Bruce Gillman (right).

For more results, and the latest from Vassar Athletics, visit the website.

Compiled by Peter Bronski