Brown Women’s Rugby Looking to Bounce Back in NRU Playoffs

November 6th, 2009 Posted in Women's Rugby |

The Brown University Women’s Rugby team opens up the Northeast Women’s College Playoffs this weekend against UConn. Brown, coming off their first loss this season to now #1 ranked Army, defeated UConn earlier this season 22-0. The top 3 teams in the playoffs will advance to the USA Championships this Spring.

Women’s Division 1 (Top 3 advance to USA Championships)
(1) Army (NERFU #1) vs. (8) Hamilton College (NYS #3)
(2) Brown University (NERFU #2) vs. (7) University of Connecticut (NERFU #5)
(3) UMass - Amherst (NERFU #3) vs. (6) Cornell University (NYS #2)
(4) Syracuse University (NYS #1) vs. (5) Dartmouth College (NERFU #4)

Read More At RugbyMag.com

Brown Sailing: Women #4, Coed #6 in Latest National Rankings

November 4th, 2009 Posted in Sailing |

Brown Qualifies for Atlantic Coast Championships, Finishes fourth at ICSA Sloop Nationals

The #6 nationally ranked coed team qualified for the Coed Atlantic Coast Championship with a sixth place finish at the Erwin Schell Trophy at MIT over the weekend of October 31-November 1. Led by William Brown ‘10, Theresa O’Neil ‘10, and Tim Eisen’s ‘11 second place finish in B-division, the Bears were in a tight battle for fourth place throughout the 20-team event. The top seven New England schools qualified for the ACC’s at Harvard on November 14-15. Brown finished second at the New England Freshmen Championship for the Nickerson Trophy at Boston University, just being edged out by Boston College.

The Sloop team of Fred Strammer, Mark Towill, Niki Osvalds ‘11, and Tommy Fink ‘13 finished fourth at the ICSA Sloop National Championship at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy on October 23-25. The coed team finished fourth at the Sherman Hoyt Trophy on October 24-25 at Brown.

The #4 ranked women’s team finished fifth at the Victorian Coffee Urn Women’s Intersectional, October 31-November 1. The top eight New England teams qualified for the Women’s Atlantic Coast Championship to be held November 14-15 at Brown.

Elizabeth Barry ‘11 and Fred Strammer ‘11 are headed to the ICSA Women’s and Men’s Single-handed National Championship, to be sailed November 6-8 in Corpus Christi, TX. Brown will also be competing at the Hap Moore Team Race Intersectional at Boston College, the Freshmen Intersectional at Boston University, and the Rhode Island State Champs at Salve Regina during the weekend of November 7-8.

Men’s Volleyball Finishes 2nd at Friar Friendship Classic

November 2nd, 2009 Posted in Men's Volleyball |

The Brown University Men’s Volleyball team competed this past weekend at the 1st Annual Friar Friendship Classic. The tournament featured local programs including Providence College, WPI, Bryant, URI, and Roger Williams. The team was able to come away with a 2nd place showing. The team’s next match is a scrimmage against Johnson and Wales’s varsity men’s squad on November 18th.

#2 Army Upends #1 Brown Women’s Rugby

November 2nd, 2009 Posted in Women's Rugby |

RugbyMag.com

By Jackie Finlan

The huge crowd at Army’s Anderson Rugby Complex got the nail-biting match it was anticipating as the home team defeated Brown women 17-12 in Saturday’s clash of the top-ranked women’s college teams in the nation.

“Both teams were in it,” said Brown coach Kerri Heffernan. “Neither wanted to budge an inch.” But Brown budged just a bit more. In addition to losing a key lock (broken collarbone) off the bat, the visitors also lost their flyhalf (jaw, not season-ending).

“We had to completely rework the backline,” Heffernan said. Additionally, there were scrumhalf issues, and Brown’s inside center slid over to the halfback position. “We just didn’t adjust well, especially with the backs’ outside defense.”

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Brown Women’s Club Soccer Takes Down #6 Northeastern University

November 2nd, 2009 Posted in Women's Club Soccer |

This past Saturday, the Brown Women’s Club Soccer team (3-0-2) defeated #6 Northeastern (5-2-1) by a score of 1-0. Alyna Khan ‘12 scored in the first half off of a beautiful cross from the right side to put the Bears on the scoreboard first. In the second half, a combination of tough defense and great play in goal by Katie Woodman ‘12 led to the second straight shutout for the Bears. This weekend the team will take on Ivy League rival Yale University, whom they tied 1-1 earlier this season at the Ivy League Round Robin Tournament.

Brown University Adds Women’s Volleyball as the Newest Club Sport

October 27th, 2009 Posted in Women's Club Volleyball |

The Brown University athletic department recently made a decision to add Women’s Club Volleyball as a new club sport beginning in the 2009-2010 year. If you are interested in playing, it’s not too late! Try-outs are happening THIS WEEK, starting October 29th! If you are interested, please contact Anna Heery or Solina Lewis-Goldman at brownwcv@gmail.com.

For more information on the team please visit their team webpage at the link below.

Brown Women’s Club Volleyball

Brown Men’s Volleyball Opens Up at Brandeis

October 27th, 2009 Posted in Men's Volleyball |

The Brown University Men’s Volleyball team opened up the 2009-2010 campaign with a third place finish at the Brandeis. This weekend the team will travel across town to compete at the 1st Annual Friar Friendship Classic hosted by Providence College. Many local club teams will be attending including Providence, Bryant, URI, and Roger Williams. The tournament will begin at 2:00pm on Sunday, November 1st.

Brown Women’s Club Soccer Competes at Ivy League Tournament

October 27th, 2009 Posted in Women's Club Soccer |

The Brown Women’s Club Soccer Program traveled to New Haven, CT this weekend to take on Yale an Harvard in the Ivy League Tournament. The team opened up with a 1-1 tie with Yale in the first game. Brown came back in the second game and defeated Harvard 2-1. The team was led in both games by sophomore goalkeeper, Katie Woodman, who completely shut down both opposing offenses.

Brown Men’s Rugby Playoff Bid Foiled by Crimson

October 26th, 2009 Posted in Men's Rugby |

BrownRugby.com

Brown, playing for a spot in the Northeast Division I Rugby playoffs, lost a heartbreaking 25-24 decision to Harvard after recovering from a 12-0 first half deficit. Dire wind and rain predictions did not occur, but the field was wet and muddy. In spite of the field conditions, the match was well played by both sides.

As with the last Brown Harvard match, Brown took the brunt of match penalties which stymied its game plan for most of the first half. Harvard took advantage of the Brown miscues to kick for great field position and then pound the ball with driving mauls and off ruck platforms. In spite of 35 minutes played mostly in the Brown half, the Brown defense was up to the task, conceding one converted and one unconverted try for a 12-0 lead.

With only minutes left in the half at a lineout at its 30 meter line, Harvard over threw the jumper and Brown flanker Hao Li’10 took the ball and drove for 10 meters, the Brown forwards secured two successive rucks and then moved the ball to to fullback Sam Rabb’10 who kicked a grubber through the flat Harvard backline. Right wing Ben Baker’10 out sprinted the Harvard support to give Brown a much needed five points in the corner. Rabb who converted all of Brown’s tries, kicked the conversion from a wide angle to end the half 12-7.

The first 15 minutes of the second half were a repeat of the first half, with Brown fighting to keep Harvard out of their end. At 55 minutes of the match a Harvard penalty kick increased the Crimson lead to 15-7. But three minutes later, a Harvard knock-on at their 20 meter line gave Brown a scrum. Harvard stopped Brown’s backs but a ruck run by prop Andrew Alvarvez’11 set up the next one by number eight Chaney Harrison’11 who showed unusual speed as he took the ball 10 meters for a try, converted by Rabb, and Brown was down 15-14.

At this point in the match the Brown forward pack was neutralizing Harvard’s lineouts and dominating the scrums. However, at a Brown scrum in their own half, the Harvard scrum half, was allowed to play the ball, which set up another Harvard try at 65 minutes and a 20-14 Harvard advantage.

Brown via tactical kicking and strong tackling were awarded a scrum at the Harvard 22 meter line. The ball went to flyhalf Zahid Jethani’13 who threaded a pass between two Harvard defenders into the hands of center James McGinn’12 who ran 10 meters for a try. Rabb’s kick was good and Brown lead 21-20 with but 10 minutes to play.

A penalty at 78 minutes gave Rabb the chance to increase the Brown lead. He was on and Brown was on top 24-20. However, within the next two minutes Brown’s bubble burst. Harvard was able to move the ball deep in Brown territory where they won a lineout and pounded the ball over the line to score at full time for the victory.

There was a good crowd of alumni, parents and friends of Brown Rugby in attendance, and the consensus of the many was that Brown outplayed Harvard on the day, but to Harvard’s credit, they rose to the occasion in those final minutes.

Brown’s fall 2009 season is thus concluded with an Ivy League record of 5 wins and 3 defeats and in sole possession of third place. Brown’s overall fall record is 6 wins and 4 defeats.

Thanks to all of our officers for their leadership and effort: Co-captains Hao Li’10 and Andrew Alvarez’11, President Sam Rabb’10, Treasurer John Hermansen’11, Match Secretary Alex Hansen’10, Tour Chairs Ben Baker’10 and Brad Arlington’10, Social Chair Jay Smith’10, Field and Equipment Chair Mike Donnell’12, website work by Dan Levine-Spound’12, and Recruiting Chair Rall Walsh’10

In addition to those seniors (2010) above, thanks must also be extended to the rest of the seniors who have been so instrumental in turning the Brown Rugby Club from a bottom Division I team in their freshman year, to a playoff Division II team their junior year and coming within a few minutes of putting Brown into the Division I playoffs: Bob Forrester, Ben Mossbarger, Gabe Heiderich, Dave Riley, Adam Leonard’10, Dan Rabb’10, and Troy Shapiro’10.

With Dave Laflamme taking the reins as head coach, he has put Brown back on the regional rugby map and set a standard of play and player commitment that Brown can hopefully maintain. He was ably assisted by coaches Rich Ashfield, Danny Saccoccio and Matthew Medina.

Brown has also been blessed for the last several years with the skill of our head athletic trainer Kelly Teixeira and her associate at the Foundry Sports Medicine Clinic, Amanda Moran. With two weekends of Saturday and Sunday matches, their field and clinic support has been invaluable.

The match referee was Don Jennings.

Second XV
Brown’s seconds could not get untracked in the muddy field conditions, allowing a Harvard first half unconverted try and a second half converted try to lose 12-0.

As has been the practice, Brown substituted liberally to give everyone some rugby in this last match of the season. With many on this squad who have just taken up the game this season, the coaches are pleased with the progress and commitment of this group, and thanks to the veterans who have filled in during the season to lend stability to the squad.

Reminder: Brown Ski Team Fundraiser on October 23rd

October 20th, 2009 Posted in Skiing |

Teton Gravity Research: Re:Session


On Friday, October 23rd, the Brown Ski Team will preview Re:Session as part of a team fundraising event. This project takes viewers beyond the traditional ski and snowboard movie into a revolutionary realm of action sports entertainment. Shot on both film and RED ONE high definition camera technology, Re: Session documents the true wealth of the mountain experience. Follow the crew as they score in one of Alagna, Italy’s deepest seasons on record. Check out forbidden powder in Poland, massive wedges in Colorado, new gap jumps in Utah, and seven weeks of epic riding conditions in Alaska. Re: Session brings the most talented athletes in the sport together into one must-see film.

Please enjoy a sneak preview by viewing the project trailer below but make sure to join the Brown Ski Team in MacMillan Hall 117 at 7pm for a full viewing and feature gear giveaways. The event is a great way to become involved and support the Brown skiing community.

Re:Session Trailer