Colorado School of Mines is in to the USA Rugby Women’s Fall DII College final after they shut down Vassar in Saturday’s semifinal 29-15.

Despite Vassar being touted in these pages as a likely favorite, Mines showed little concern for the defending fall champs. Instead, they Colorado team strong-armed Vassar at the point of contact, and outrucked a team that is known for its rucking.

Vassar wasn’t as tidy around the breakdown as they have been, and certainly weren’t as quick to get the numbers they needed over the ball.

The result? No long strings of phases for the Brewers, and turnover ball against a fractured defense for  the Orediggers.

Mines No. 8 Mary Oglesby was all sorts of problems for Vassar and it usually took two or three players to bring her down. ANd it was Oglesby who thundered over to open up the scoring.

Vassar replied with fullback Molly Lynch crossing the line, but it was slow going for the Brewers, as they couldn’t break out of their own end.

Constant pressure from Mines finally told, with scrumhalf Morgan Walls finishing it off, and moments later Mines was right back on the doorstep, with hooker Raquel Lucero Schnell kicking the door down.

That made it 19-5 and really Vassar never looked like they would be able to break it open enough to come back.

The Mines defense stayed strong and they rucked well enough to slow or disrupt Vassar ball at the breakdown. Vassar did finally string some phases together and got it out to Lynch who was in at the corner, but Mines replied immediately. Vassar then put together probably its best sequence, using those quick pick-and-goes and then sending it wide for center Alexa Mousley. 

But it was all too late. A breakaway finished by Oglesby capped it off 29-15, and Mines will play in the final on Sunday.