HOUSTON, TX - Immediately prior to the semifinal game yesterday, between Vassar College and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, a Coast Guard helicopter flew right over the SaberCats stadium as the players waited in the tunnel to take the field. The helicopter circled overhead and while it wasn't quite as loud as the 747 S.A. Airlines jet that swooped over Ellis Stadium in 1995 in support of the South African National team, it definitely caught everyone's attention! 

The National Collegiate Rugby Women's Division II National Final may not have had the same pre kick-off show and all the excitement was reserved for the action on the field and neither team disappointed.

Vassar College Women 29 v 32 University of Wisconsin Eau Claire
Tries: Zoe Lynch (1), Sophia Bailey (2), Asia Baker (1), Jude Robinson (1).
Cons: Zoe Lynch (2).

This was an exciting final particularly for the neutral fan. The two teams traded blows and there were back and forth lead changes that had the vociferous fans urging their teams to victory.

Vassar went up when flyhalf Zoe Lynch slipped through the Eau Claire defenders after an extended start. Eau Claire had received the kickoff and stretched the Vassar defense getting just over the halfway line but Vassar wing Danny White ripped the ball away from the tracker and Vassar went through multiple phases finishing with the score. Lynch converted the try and it was 7-0.

The response from UW Eau Claire was not long in coming and the Wisconsin team tied up matters when a couple of missed tackles saw them score under the posts.

A second try for Eau Claire was the result of strong running and poor tackling as they stretched the Brewers in the wide channels and then found a gap. A third try, this one converted, put UW up 17-7 and it was clear Vassar would have to both tighten up defensively and get the ball.

The momentum of the game swung again and now it was Vassar controlling matters with possession. Vassar's Sophia Bailey sprinted over and Lynch converted to make it a three-point margin and the Vassar forwards seemed to be getting an edge.

Flanker Asia Baker had another storming game and put Vassar up when she drove over and Vassar then held off a series of UW attacks as the first 40 minutes came to a close. Vassar led 19-17 but everyone present knew there would be more scores to come. Vassar had also had flanker Mette McKinney yellow carded and had to play with 14 for 10 minutes.

The Vassar pack though down to seven was able to shunt UW back in the set piece!

Vassar received the ball at the start of the second half and despite some good pressure from UW the Brewers managed to get field position. Then from a scrum inside the UW 22 Sophia Bailey went blind and scored her second try and the team's fourth. At 24-17 it was obviously still very much anyone's game.

Back came the UW team swinging the ball down their backline and although Vassar defended better, with Leah Dourmashkin doing particularly well, alas the Brewers were guilty of giving away penalties. Not only did this allow for UW to get up field but it rendered some good defensive sets meaningless.

UW needed no further invitation and scored to make it 24-22. The UW team had done a good job of holding onto the ball and probing out wide. UW also ran off the fringes and kept the Vassar defenders busy.

At about the 72 minutes mark and just eight minutes left, there was a second yellow card for Vassar as wing  Danny White was adjudged to have tackled high. Vassar was down to 14 again! In addition, Sophia Bailey had to leave the field with an injury and was carried off after UW went over to score.

At 27-24 UW were in front and Vassar had to respond. After some excellent work from the forwards picking and making hard yards, the ball went to the backs and fullback Jude Robinson burst through to regain the lead at 29-27. Robinson had played so well defensively on both days it was truly a well deserved try.

The restart would give UW field position and Vassar would need to manufacture their way forward to close out the match. But a turnover allowed UW to get possession and now it was Vassar hanging on by a narrow 2-point margin!

Vassar's Maddie Sumrow had come on to replace Bailey with first year student Leah Dourmashkin moving to scrumhalf. It was a cruel time to not have Bailey as Vassar mounted their final attack. The Brewers entered the UW half and one dared to believe that one more score was possible. However, in the end a turnover allowed UW to kick the ball to touch and the final whistle blew.

A tough loss for the Brewers but credit is certainly due UW Eau Claire for winning the title in such a close match.

A huge shout out to the many, many family, alums and friends who made the trip to Houston. What a cheering section. Thank you one and all. Also thanks to our Director of Sports Medicine, Suzi Higgins for making the trip and healing all; Assistant AD Michael Callahan; and the squad members who cheered their teammates from start to finish and brought energy and positivity to every moment. 

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: Katie Canavan for Julia Wolff, Maddie Sumrow for Sophia Bailey.

Overall Record: 10-4-0
Next: Spring Season 2024

Since the inception of a Fall National Championship in 2013 Vassar College has reached the Final 4 in nine of the 10 years.

2013 Third place
2014 Quarterfinalists
2015 Fourth place
2016 Third place
2017 Runner-up
2018 Champions
2019 Fourth place
2020 No competition due to the pandemic
2021 Champions
2022 Champions
2023 Runner-up

Prior to 2013 Vassar College played at the Division I level and made three USA Rugby National Championship appearances in the Round of 16.