This weekend marks the beginning of the Tri-State Conference season and while it’s early days - most of the students have just returned to campus - it’s also a competition that is completely open.

This is in part because 2014 champions Fairfield has moved up to DIAA in the ECRC. Fairfield won the Tri-State before being eliminated from the national playoffs in a wild game with Roan University. With Fairfield out of the picture, there are some openings.

Vassar, which won the North with a 4-0 record, could well be the team to step into the vacuum, but Sacred Heart, 5-1 last season in the South, could, as well. Sacred Heart’s coach, Erik Bacik has stepped back for family reasons and a new coach could mean an adjustment period. RPI is hoping to build on a 3-1 season from last year (Marist was also 3-1 in the North). 

Vassar, which beat Sacred Heart in the Tri-State semis, graduated nine seniors. But captains Eli Vargas and Zach Rippe will lead the team with Vargas playing scrumhalf. John Winton and Adam D’Agostino both studied abroad last year, and both played rugby while doing so. They could be a boost.

Saturday RPI visits Siena, and then Sunday four other games are on the docket.

(2014 fall conference records in parentheses)

Saturday 

RPI (3-1) at Siena (1-3)

Sunday

Vassar (4-0) at SUNY New Paltz (0-4)

Hofstra (1-5) at Molloy (4-2)

Montclair State (1-5) at Sacred Heart (5-1)

William Paterson (1-4-1) at NJIT (4-2)