Poughkeepsie, NY - The conditions underfoot were muddy and the ball was greasy but neither team seemed phased by those issues. A good first half performance from the home team certainly got the attention of the Vassar players and after 30 minutes Vassar trailed by two tries to one with the score at 12-5. But a couple of tries in the last 10 minutes of the half saw the teams turn around at 17-12 in the Brewers favor.

Vassar College Women 74 at 12 Marist College Women
Tries: Danny White (1), Leah Dourmashkin (1), Sam Tang (2), Asia Baker (2), Zoe Lynch (1), Maddie Sumrow (1), Maggie Nealis (3), Sophia Bailey (1).
Cons: Zoe Lynch (7).

The history in recent years of games against Marist have followed a similar plot and this one was no different. Marist came out of the blocks breathing fire and brimstone, tackling hard, earning turnovers and in the process collecting two tries. Vassar had produced a perfect start when, from the kick off, possession was regained at the breakdown and after a series of phases wing Danny White scored a good try to make it a 5-0 lead.

The Brewers fielded freshmen at 9, 12, 13, 4 and 8. In addition, there were first starts this year for Sam Tang and Maddie Sumrow. The main question was would the team be able to organize effectively in attack and defense under the pressure that Marist would apply. It didn't help matters that debutant Kiki Takata took a knock to her knee and had to go off. It is to be hoped that recovery is quick and the injury not too serious.

The early signs were promising as Leah Dourmashkin at 9 distributed to forwards reasonably well and the backs also made inroads. But there must have been some doubts in the players minds as Marist broke through to score, with the inside center beating Vassar's Sabine Weil to the outside before offloading to support. Marist followed that with another try 15 minutes later this time getting around the defense and again it was from a lineout. The young Vassar backs will be able to look at the video and learn what needs to improve.

Marist led 12-5 having made 1 conversion and Vassar responded with some very direct hard running from the pack. Katie Canavan, Julie Geller, Sam Tang made good inroads in that final 10 minutes of the half. Leah Dourmashkin scored when she sniped around the side of a ruck from about 10 meters out and then Sam Tang put Vassar ahead at the interval 17-12.

The second half began with Marist still tackling hard from time to time but Vassar was making yards. The relentless waves of attack and constantly having to backpedal wore down the Marist players and two tries from Vassar's Asia Baker made the margin more demoralizing. At 31-12 Vassar flyhalf Zoe Lynch took a quick tap penalty and scored to make it 36-12 and one could sense the contest was all but over.

Vassar rang the changes and first years Maggie Nealis and Ella Mainiatis were put into the center to replace the starting first years, who were moved to the wing. It is exciting to think that these 4 first year students together with rookie Dourmashkin will be with the team for four years. Having made several changes Vassar went on a scoring spree that both surprised and delighted the squad. Maggie Nealis scored three tries with her first four touches of the rugby ball. Maddie Sumrow scored when she picked up a ball that was over the goal line but brought back into play, Samuel Tang capped a good afternoon with another try, and Sophia Bailey got on in the dying minutes at fullback and went over.

The regular season is now complete and Vassar will compete for the Tri-State Conference title starting next weekend with a quarterfinal game against Stony Brook University.

Team: 15 Jude Robinson 14 Danny White 13 Sabine Weil 12 Eleanor Jacoby 11 Maddie Sumrow 10 Zoe Lynch 9 Leah Dourmashkin 1 Julie Geller 2 Katie Canavan 3 Sam Tang 4 Kiki Takata 5 Annie Adams 6 Mette McKinney 7 Asia Baker 8 Tate Wagner.
Subs: Becca Middlen for Kiki Takata, Grace Skakel for Annie Adams, Leila Stark for Asia Baker, Nina Fishman for Julie Geller, Ella Maniatis for Maddie Sumrow, Maggie Nealis for Danny White, Sophia Bailey for Jude Robinson.

Next weekend: Tri-State Conference Playoffs - Quarterfinal on Saturday October 28th, 2023 Vassar College Women v Stony Brook University Women at Vassar Farm, kickoff 12:00 noon. Sunday October 29th, 2023 Semifinal v Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Women or Marist College Women at Vassar Farm, kickoff 12:00 noon.

Tri-State Conference Division III Semifinal
Vassar College Men v SUNY-Maritime Men to follow on Sunday October 29th, 2023 at the Vassar Farm, kickoff 3:00 pm.