Heartbreak at Vassar as Hawks Fight to the End

Nail-biter Loss to Vassar, Women Set For Home Finish

Heartbreak at Vassar as Hawks Fight to the End

As the fall season reaches its final weekend of conference play, both of our New Paltz rugby teams find themselves at a critical juncture. The men have already secured a spot in the playoffs and are using this weekend as an opportunity to iron out their game plan and blood new players ahead of the postseason. Meanwhile, the women’s team is coming off a weekend where they helped USMMA secure a victory against Molloy, and they’ll now face Molloy themselves in a 12s match at home this Sunday. A playoff spot could be on the line, making this weekend’s game a high-stakes affair for the women as well.

Women’s Team: Back from a Bye and Ready for the Finale

Last weekend, the women’s team showed their support for USMMA by sending three of their players—Emma Riutta, Liam Gorelin, and Maddy Mihaley—to help out in a series of 7s matches against Molloy. The trio made their mark as USMMA won 15-0, and now they’ll look to carry that momentum into this weekend's home game against Molloy, where they’ll reunite with the rest of the team for a 12s match. Due to Molloy’s roster size, both teams agreed to play a 12s format, but that doesn’t diminish the stakes. A victory this weekend could see New Paltz earn a spot in the playoffs against either Molloy or Siena.

Coach Thierry Duclay was full of praise for the collaboration between the teams and the experience his players gained.

“Last week was our opportunity to return the favor and help USMMA women’s rugby team with their own home game against Molloy. So, three of our players, Emma (Riutta), Liam (Gorelin), and Maddy (Mihaley) volunteered and assisted with a few 7s games at the US Merchant Marine Academy. USMMA won their games and word is that our players had a blast, gained a little more experience and for all three of them it was their first time playing on the USMMA grounds—as a USMMA player! This inter-team support is wonderful and reinforces the spirit of what rugby is all about.”

With that spirit in mind, the women’s team is ready to give it their all this Sunday. If they win, they’ll move into the playoffs, potentially facing Molloy or Siena. Should they fall short, the team is organizing a possible friendly with Fordham to wrap up their season in style.

Kickoff against Molloy is at 12:00 pm at home, and we’d love to see a big crowd to support the Hawks in their final regular-season game!

Men’s Team: Playoff Berth Secured, Tournament Tune-Up This Weekend

In a high-scoring thriller, the men’s team battled fiercely against longtime rivals Vassar this past weekend, only to fall just short in the final moments of the match. New Paltz put up 40 points in one of their highest-scoring games of the season, but Vassar edged them out 44-40, scoring in the dying minutes to secure the win. Despite the narrow loss, the match was a showcase of determination and resilience from the Hawks, who led multiple times throughout the game.

Senior center Josh Holland-Weiss reflected on the game and how proud he was of his team, especially the new players.

“I've been playing for a while now and looking back that was probably the most fun I've had in a game. Even though we lost, it was a tightly contested game until the last minute, everyone fought hard and the crowd was going nuts. Vassar had a great atmosphere and rugby crowd.”

He also highlighted the potential of the team going forward.

“Although we lost, I was really proud of our new guys. It’s a big ask to come into Vassar against a great team in an unfamiliar sport and hold your own. Despite the loss, I have a lot of confidence in this team moving forward. Vassar didn’t beat us—we beat ourselves. We just need to clean up the small stuff, and I genuinely believe nobody can beat us if we stick to our fundamentals.”

Coach Joel Venables echoed this sentiment, praising several standout players but acknowledging the challenges they faced with missing players and an inexperienced bench.

Taha (Syed) played great, he's really stepped up in the backs. Irish (Sean Ryan), who is usually a center, played great at 8. Fred (Asher), our flyhalf, is unbelievable. His kicking is awesome in open play, and he kicked all of our field goals.”

The game was an intense back-and-forth affair. The Hawks were down 12-0 early but fought back to take the lead, only to see it slip away in the final moments. Venables highlighted the team’s resilience but also noted the areas that need work.

“We were down 12-0 to start the game, but battled back and were up 40-37. At the end, we had to empty the bench with some really inexperienced players and just couldn't hang on. Our defense needs to step up a little bit, and our rucking could use some work.”

Despite the challenges, the Hawks performed admirably against a big Vassar pack, and Venables is confident that, with a full squad, the team is poised for success in the playoffs.

“The scrum did well with changes in the lineup, but we were up against a really big Vassar pack. The team is tremendous, and when we get guys back we're really going to destroy teams in the fall. Tony Brown (the Vassar head coach) said it was great to see New Paltz back as a powerful team, but he was really sweating it haha. We're down four props now, so it's gonna be tough until they come back.”

Venables also noted that Indiana Ingberman scored an important try on the back of one of Asher’s kicks, though he sustained a knee injury in the process, adding to the list of injured players. The team will focus on getting healthy and ironing out the small details as they prepare for the playoffs.

Loss to Vassar College 44-40

Try: Taha Syed, Josh Holland-Weiss, Indiana Ingberman, and Jackson Thorne

Conversion: Fred Asher (4)

Penalty Goal: Fred Asher (4)

The good news is that the Hawks have already secured their spot in the playoffs and will learn who and where they play early next week. This weekend, instead of their scheduled match against Bard (who forfeited), the men will participate in a 10s tournament at Bard, fielding both an A and a B side. This tournament will give the team one last opportunity to sharpen their skills before playoff action begins.

New Paltz Rugby Legends: Help Us Improve Game-Day Conditions and Support the Teams

We want to say a big thank you to everyone who has donated so far! Thanks to your generosity, a plaque honoring Raymond Rattray has been purchased and paid for by the supporters through this newsletter. Your contributions are making a real difference, and we couldn’t do it without you.

But we still need your help to make an immediate impact on the quality of life for the current New Paltz rugby players. Right now, the team's budget is primarily absorbed by transportation costs, which have nearly doubled in the last two years due to rising bus rental fees. This leaves very little room for other necessary expenses that are crucial for running a rugby club.

To give you an idea of the challenges, the players have literally had to sit in their cars before games if it’s raining, as there hasn’t been enough in the budget to provide proper cover. Thanks to the New Paltz Rugby Legends group, we are now securing canopy tents so the players can focus on their pre-game preparation - not just staying dry!

Your contributions can make an immediate difference in improving the team’s experience and help cover the growing costs of running a rugby club. Whether it's providing tents, buying new gear, or supporting other essential needs, your generosity has a direct impact on the players and their ability to succeed.

If you’d like to contribute and help us continue supporting the next generation of New Paltz rugby players, please consider donating through Venmo:

Every bit helps, and your donation ensures that the teams can focus on what really matter - getting better at the game of rugby. Thank you again for your continued support!

New York Sevens: Join the Naughty Bears!

Do you want to cap off the year with a thrilling weekend of rugby? The Naughty Bears, a social touring team founded by New Paltz alumni Andrew Torres and Arber Cobaj, are looking for a few more players to join them at the New York Sevens tournament. Whether you’re a current player or an alumnus, this is a fantastic opportunity to get involved, have fun, and represent New Paltz rugby on the big stage.

If you're interested in playing, contact Andrew Torres at [email protected] or DM the team on Instagram at @naughtybearsrugby. The deadline to express interest is November 13th. Don’t miss out on what promises to be an unforgettable experience!

Save The Date

There will be a meetup in Manhattan on November 16th for current players, alumni, and supporters. It will be a fantastic networking opportunity for current players, with lots of rugby action on screen—England vs South Africa and New Zealand vs France. More details will follow soon, but mark your calendars now!

Go Hawks