A Season of Growth and Milestones for New Paltz Rugby

As the fall season wraps up, both New Paltz rugby teams can reflect on a term marked by resilience, growth, and exciting potential. The women’s team battled through a challenging conference final against Siena, finishing the season as division finalists—a testament to their hard work and improvement. The men’s team, despite a canceled final game, closed out a competitive season that promises more to come. Here’s a look back at the season and a few events ahead for New Paltz rugby.

A Season of Growth and Grit Ends in the Conference Final

The women’s team concluded their remarkable season with a challenging appearance in the Tri-State Conference Division III final against reigning champions Siena. Facing immense obstacles, the Hawks arrived with only 13 players, no coach available, and took on a team that had defeated them handily just weeks before. Though victory was unlikely, New Paltz showed up and fought with determination, ultimately falling 64-5.

Team captain and number 8, Sydney Rifenberg, reflected on the team’s achievements this season.

“We put up a good fight against Siena. They are a very strong and skilled team. We fought together as a team the whole game and kept our spirits high. It is such a big deal that we made it to the finals, and I could not be more proud of the team.”

Coach Thierry Duclay, who could not attend the game, expressed his pride and perspective on the season.

“This season has been a work in progress, but we’re going in the right direction. After all, we finished #2 in our division, and that’s something to celebrate!”

The women’s journey to the finals, despite all odds, demonstrates their resilience and dedication. It’s clear that this season’s hard work has laid a solid foundation for continued growth and success in the spring.

Women’s Team: Fall 2024 Season Summary

• Record: 4 Wins, 3 Losses

• Total Points Scored: 140

• Total Points Against: 314

• Point Differential: -174

Game-by-Game Results:

1. vs. Drew University (officially a win by forfeit)

   • Score: 15-10 Win (Game 1) and 15-15 Draw (Game 2)

   • Key Scorers: Celina Nehme (4 tries), Bella Venezia (1 try), Kaydi McInerney (1 try)

2. Forfeit Win over SUNY Maritime

3. vs. USMMA (scrimmage, but officially a win by forfeit)

   • Format: Intrasquad scrimmage; no official score

4. vs. Siena College

   • Score: 5-55 Loss

   • Try Scorer: Liam Gorelin (1 try)

5. vs. Molloy College

   • Score: 17-58 Loss

   • Key Scorers: Liam Gorelin (3 tries), Bella Venezian, Jess Savio

6. Playoff Semifinal vs. Molloy College

   • Score: 40-38 Win

   • Key Scorers: Liam Gorelin (3 tries, 5 conversions), Ciara (USMMA, 4 tries)

7. Conference Final vs. Siena College

   • Score: 5-64 Loss

   • Try Scorer: Liam Gorelin (1 try)

Women’s Season Scoring Leaders:

1. Liam Gorelin – 65 points

   • (10 tries, 7 conversions)

2. Ciara (USMMA) – 20 points

   • (4 tries)

3. Celina Nehme – 20 points

   • (4 tries)

Building on a Conference Final Appearance

The men’s team wrapped up their season after a competitive playoff run that saw them reach the conference quarterfinals. Though their final social game against Oneonta was canceled, their season was a powerful learning experience. Their determination to reach the quarterfinals reflects the growing strength and cohesion of the squad.

Coach Joel Venables was proud of what the men were able to accomplish this season and is excited about what the future holds.

“We’ve got so many good players now and a lot of them are still young and just learning the game. I’m going to do a ton of recruiting for next season and just keep adding to the depth we already have. If we get everyone healthy and get some key guys into skills positions, we’re gonna be unstoppable.”

Men’s Team: Fall 2024 Season Summary

• Record: 5 Wins, 2 Losses

• Total Points Scored: 237

• Total Points Against: 177

• Point Differential: +60

Game-by-Game Results:

1. Preseason

   • vs. Binghamton: 41-5 Win

     • Key Scorers: Caleb Persanis, Ryan Brown, Sean Ryan, Darragh O’Connell, Fred Asher (conversions, penalties)

   • vs. Hofstra: 12-12 Draw

     • Key Scorer: Fred Asher (penalties)

2. vs. SUNY Maritime

   • Score: 28-26 Win

   • Key Scorers: Caleb Persanis, Parker Karinsky, Richie Lara-Rodriguez, Fred Asher (penalties, conversions)

3. vs. Vassar College

   • Score: 40-44 Loss

   • Key Scorers: Taha Syed, Josh Holland-Weiss, Indiana Ingberman, Jackson Thorne, Fred Asher (penalties, conversions)

4. Tri-State Development 10s Tournament

   • Results: Won Tournament

   • Scores:

     • vs. Bard: 37-7 Win

     • vs. Oneonta: 31-14 Win (Pool Play); 48-10 Win (Semifinal)

     • vs. Molloy: 27-10 Win (Final)

   • Top Try Scorers: Darragh O'Connell (6), Josh Holland-Weiss (4), Jackson Thorne (3), Jimmy Norris (2), Fred Asher (2)

5. Playoff Quarterfinal vs. Montclair State

   • Score: 3-59 Loss

   • Key Scorer: Fred Asher (1 penalty goal)

Men’s Season Scoring Leaders:

1. Fred Asher – 47 points

   • (1 try, 13 conversions, 6 penalties)

2. Darragh O'Connell – 30 points

   • (6 tries)

3. Josh Holland-Weiss – 25 points

   • (5 tries)

Upcoming Events: Alumni Meetup and New York Sevens

Join the Naughty Bears for NY Sevens!
Are you looking to finish the year with some rugby action? The Naughty Bears, a social touring team founded by New Paltz alumni Andrew Torres and Arber Cobaj, are still recruiting players for the New York Sevens tournament. This is a great opportunity to represent New Paltz rugby, connect with other alumni, and enjoy some serious rugby camaraderie.

Interested players can reach out to Andrew Torres at [email protected] or send a DM to the team on Instagram at @naughtybearsrugby. The deadline to sign up is November 13th, so don’t miss your chance!

Alumni Meetup on November 16th
Mark your calendars for a New Paltz rugby meetup at The Liberty, 29 W 35th St, New York, NY 10001. Join us to watch the internationals, England vs. South Africa and New Zealand vs. France, and connect with current players, alumni, and supporters. It’s a fantastic networking opportunity and a great way to strengthen the New Paltz rugby community. We hope to see you there!

January Open Meeting for Alumni Involvement
As we continue to grow and support New Paltz rugby, we invite anyone interested to join us for an open meeting in January. This session will cover our vision and strategic plan for alumni support, gather feedback from team leadership, and field questions and ideas for future initiatives. Stay tuned for further details, and feel free to reach out if you’d like to play a part in guiding the New Paltz rugby program into the future.

Thank you to everyone who supported New Paltz rugby this fall. The dedication of players, coaches, alumni, and friends is what makes this community strong. Here’s to a successful season and the promise of many more to come.

Go Hawks!