CULPEPER, VA - Since the inception of the Fall National Championship in 2013, the Vassar College Women have appeared in the Final Four 8 of the 10 years. In 2014 they fell at the quarterfinal stage and there was no championship in 2020 on account of COVID-19.

Sometimes the weight of expectation can be overwhelming but this Vassar squad rose to the challenge and took control of the quarterfinal against Temple University right from the kickoff.

Vassar College Women 38 v 10 Temple University 
Tries: Sophia Bailey (2), Zoe Lynch (1), Katie Canavan (1), Asia Baker (1), Sam Tang (1).
Cons: Zoe Lynch (4).

The Brewers were under no illusions about what they had to do to be successful. The Round of 16 game the day before against Coastal Carolina University, which was won 17-15, had focused every player. Finishing tackles, no turnovers, no silly penalties and getting set up quicker were all priorities.

Vassar received the kick-off and set about attacking using both forwards and backs. The Brewers went through multiple phases and eventually Sophia Bailey went over and it was 7-0. 

The Temple players must have had a sense of dejà-vu because in the 2021 final and the 2022 semifinal the Vassar forwards monopolized possession and the final score lines were emphatic. But a dropped pass by the Vassar back division was picked up and moments later the Owls from Philadelphia were only two points adrift at 5-7.

Cue the Vassar forwards and like the 7th Cavalry with Sophia Bailey the beneficiary the second try was earned. Vassar led 14-5. Temple had barely touched the ball and Vassar was dictating the tempo and field position.

More determined running resulted in Vassar getting inside the Temple 22, so when the ball came out to the backs Zoe Lynch smartly kept the ball and then plunged over dragging defenders with her. Three converted Vassar tries after 30 minutes did wonders for the confidence but Temple had shown the day before that they were capable of scoring fast and frequently. The top runners for the Owls did have some strong penetrating runs but too often the ball was spilled and possession lost.

Defensively for Vassar the tackling was much improved on Saturday's efforts but that was in no small part due to the team getting organised and being set up. 

The half finished with a stout defensive stand as Temple pounded at the Vassar goal line. The Owls did get over the line but the ball was clearly held up and the whistle blew for the end of the half and it was still 21-5.

Accolades aplenty can be awarded to all for such was the control exhibited that everyone had to be contributing. However, flanker Mette McKinney and lock Annie Adams excelled with both tackling well and getting around the park. The front five rumbled and shunted the Temple scrum backwards in the second half and the lineouts went well.

Special mention is due Vassar fullback Jude Robinson for they put in a number of crunching tackles that were try savers. What a weekend for the sophomore who also shone on Saturday.

The referee, Mr. Vincent Girolami, had an excellent game and both teams benefitted from his clear interpretations at the breakdown. Tacklers were encouraged to roll away and assist tacklers had to show clear release or there were consequences. It led to a game that was enjoyable to watch and flowed nicely.

Katie Canavan scored Vassar's fifth try and 26-5 looked commanding. Once again Temple responded and a runner slipped through to make it 26-10. But Vassar put the icing on the cake as Asia Baker, the openside flanker, was rewarded for her efforts with a try and Sam Tang deservedly went over. At the end it was six tries to two and Lynch had slotted four conversions.

Team: 15 Jude Robinson 14 Leah Dourmashkin 13 Sabine Weil 12 Eleanor Jacoby 11 Danny White 10 Zoe Lynch 9 Sophia Bailey 1 Julia Wolff 2 Julie Geller 3 Andie Authers 4 Annie Adams 5 Grace Skakel 6 Mette McKinney 7 Asia Baker 9 Lauren Showalter. Subs: Maddie Sumrow for Leah Dourmashkin, Katie Canavan for Julia Wolff, and Samuel Tang for Andie Authers, Jamie Marinez for Danny White, Leila Stark for Lauren Showalter.

Overall Record: 9-3-0

Next: Saturday & Sunday December  2 & 3, 2023 National Collegiate Rugby (NCR)  Fall Championship in Houston, TX.
Saturday December 2, 2023 
2:00 pm Vassar College v US Coast Guard Academy
4:00 pm University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire v University of Illinois

Sunday December 3, 2023
12:30 pm 3rd/4th place playoff
2:00 pm Championship Game