FAIRFIELD, C.T. - The Vassar College Women's Rugby team went on the road and had to face a team that finished in first place at the conclusion of the regular season. In fact, Vassar had lost to Fairfield University 41-19 two weeks ago so there was a real focus and desire to set the record straight. After a fairly intense 80 minutes the Brewers had found redemption, scoring four tries and leading 28-5 with four minutes left. Fairfield did get a try in the dying moments to reduce the margin but Vassar had a solid win on the balmy fall afternoon.

Vassar College Women 28 v 10 Fairfield University Women
Tries: Sophia Bailey (2), Yasmeen Kassem-Scott (1), Lauren Showalter (1).
Cons: Zoe Lynch (4)

The Vassar backrow was much more visible on defense and put the Fairfield back division under enormous pressure. This allied to Vassar maintaining possession and reducing the number of turnovers starved their outside runners of the ball. The final coup de grâs was the team cover tackling and in particular a couple of interventions by freshman Sophia Bailey. She came across the field like an Exocet missile and absolutely smashed the Fairfield ball carriers who were about to celebrate scoring tries! Another outstanding head on tackle was made by Vassar prop Julie Geller who bravely stood in the path of the oncoming freight train that was a Fairfield player.

It was scrumhalf Bailey who alertly scored Vassar's first try on the back of the Vassar forwards stealing a scrum. Even though she went the wrong way she outpaced the defense. Zoe Lynch kicked the conversion and had a good day connecting on all 4 attempts.

Freshman Yasmeen Kassem-Scott scored next and is starting to be a more dynamic ball carrier. At 14-0 Vassar had banished their nerves and sown seeds of doubt in the home team and it had been a good start.

At stake was a place in the Final 4 in Matthews, NC on December 3rd & 4th and a shot at defending the national title. It was no surprise that Fairfield responded to make it a 14-5 game. The key at this moment was not to panic and stay within the team structures but most importantly for all to make dominant solid tackles. Defense begins with good tackling and Vassar is starting to embrace this as a major part of their game and identity. It is not good enough to "swim" around ball carriers and the Julie Geller standard must become the norm!

After the Fairfield try Vassar switched up the attack pattern and Number 8 Lauren Showalter outflanked the home team defense for a good score. Vassar led 21-5 at the half.

In the second half Vassar left a couple of scores out on the field. First, Yasmeen Kassem-Scott picked up the ball and scored in the corner only for the AR and referee to deem that a knock-on had previously occurred. Then the try that should have been was "scored" by Sophia Bailey. Vassar swung the ball to the right after some good work down the left wing and Bailey got around the defense heading for the try line. She dived and lay on the ground amongst the autumn leaves beaming only to belatedly realize that it was the 5-meter line and not the try line!

In that second half Vassar remained focused and worked hard. Tackles were put in and although players were getting tired they kept going. It is essential that this team understand that there will be periods of difficulty and they must stay in the fight.

Vassar's Bailey scored to make it 28-5 and then in the final four minutes Fairfield managed to get over the line and it finished 28-10. The Vassar players celebrated on the field where they were defeated two weeks earlier and are the Tri-State Conference Champions for 2022.

Team: 15 Claire Zickl 14 Zoe Lynch 13 Caeli Porette 12 Isabel Rodriguez 11 Elise Johnson 10 Kasey Drake 9 Sophia Bailey 1 Julie Geller 2 Katie Canavan 3 Andie Authers 4 Grace Skakel 5 Julia Wolff 6 Louise Ambler 7 Yasmeen Kassem-Scott 8 Lauren Showalter. Subs: Asia Baker for Andie Authers, Yael Tuckman for Julie Geller, Danny White for Elise Johnson.