Women's Rugby Advances To Tri-State Conference Semifinal

Brewers will take on Fairfield tomorrow afternoon

Poughkeepsie, NY - The Tri-State Conference playoffs pitted the #2 seeded Vassar College Brewers against the #7 seeded Stony Brook University Seawolves. Vassar is still trying to find a vein of consistency and on today's showing, a step in the right direction was taken. Apart from the first 20 minutes of the second half there was a steady stream of scores. In the end the Vassar team scored 11 tries and more importantly did not concede a try. Tomorrow, Sunday October 29th, 2023 Vassar faces Fairfield University in the Conference semifinal at 12:00 noon at Vassar Farm.

Vassar College Women 65 v Stony Brook University Women 0
Tries: Sophia Bailey (2), Zoe Lynch (1), Katie Canavan (1), Julie Geller (1), Grace Skakel (1), Mette McKinney (1), Danny White (1), Maddie Sumrow (1), Andie Authers (1), Lauren Showalter (1).
Cons: Zoe Lynch (5).

The Brewers got off to a flying start in this Tri-State Conference quarterfinal when Sophia Bailey took a quick tap penalty and sliced through the Stony Brook defense to give Vassar the lead. Zoe Lynch slotted the conversion and it was 7-0.

The Vassar forwards got into their stride early and it was clear that they could boss the game if they worked together and dominated the breakdown. There were periods when the forwards were guilty of not committing to the rucks and they were reminded at halftime that winning a ruck is the first priority over and above scoring.

The set piece scrums and lineouts went reasonably well for the Brewers so possession was not an issue. Vassar penetrated around the fringes and also moved the ball to the centers. It was a display that had plenty of lessons for all.

Zoe Lynch did a better job of getting wide but still got sucked into rucks and fringe defense which is a concern. Lauren Showalter looked sharp in attack and worked harder on defense while Katie Canavan had some good moments with ball in hand.

Danny White on the wing was working hard and collected 2 scores and might have had a third but for a slightly forward pass smuggled from Sophia Bailey.

Zoe Lynch scored Vassar's second try alertly spotting a gap and on the day hit 5 onversions making her total points tally 15.

Tries 3, 4, 5 and 6 were from the forwards as Canavan, Geller, Skakel and McKinney went over. At the half it was 34-0. C0-captains Grace Skakel and Julie Geller led by example and both deserve credit for their unselfish play.

At the interval Stony Brook turned around and stemmed the tide for 20 minutes of the second half with some strong running and determined tackling. But Vassar struck next with White slithering through and from that point on Stony Brook knew there was no way back into the contest.

Vassar shuffled the lineup and Leah Dourmashkin went to scrumhalf with Bailey moving to fullback. The subs were introduced and there was a huge roar late on when Maggie Nealis went over with her first touch of the ball. Hopefully, this will become a habit! In the center Sabine Weil had some big runs and it was her pass that put away Nealis.

The Brewers need to rest up this evening and prepare for what will likely be a tough battle tomorrow as Fairfield comes to the Farm for the Conference semifinal. The message will be that tackling and defensive organization are critical. Sunday Vassar will have to be in top form.

Team: 15 Jude Robinson 14 Danny White 13 Sabine Weil 12 Eleanor Jacoby 11 Leah Dourmashkin 10 Zoe Lynch 9 Sophia Bailey 1 Julie Geller 2 Katie Canavan 3 Andie Authers 4 Grace Skakel 5 Julia Wolff 6 Annie Adams 7 Mette McKinney 8 Lauren Showalter.
Subs: Becca Middlen for Julia Wolff, Sam Tang for Annie Adams, Lola Yost for Katie Canavan, Tate Wagner for Lauren Showalter, Carmen Skinder for Mette McKinney, Maddie Sumrow Eleanor Jacoby, Maggie Nealis for Leah Dourmashkin, Jamie Marinez for Jude Robinson.

Next: Sunday October 29th, 2023 Vassar College Women v Fairfield University Women at Vassar Farm KO 12:00 noon

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Players Mentioned

Andie Authers: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Katie Canavan: 4' 9"; Junior

Julie Geller: 5' 2"; Junior

Zoe Lynch: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Jamie Marinez: Junior

Lauren Showalter: 5' 8"; Junior

Grace Skakel: 5' 8"; Junior

Annie Adams: Sophomore

Sophia Bailey: First Year

Danny White: Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Andie Authers
: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Katie Canavan
: 4' 9"; Junior

Julie Geller
: 5' 2"; Junior

Zoe Lynch
: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Jamie Marinez
: Junior

Lauren Showalter
: 5' 8"; Junior

Grace Skakel
: 5' 8"; Junior

Annie Adams
: Sophomore

Sophia Bailey
: First Year

Danny White
: Sophomore

Vassar College Athletics

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned