Fairfield, CT -  In this top of the table Tri-State Conference matchup between Vassar and Fairfield, played at the latter's field, it was the visitors who dominated possession and territory in the first 40 minutes. The second half was a mystery as all of a sudden Vassar was being penalized consistently and Fairfield managed to monopolize the ball and territory. But in the end the Connecticut school had no points to show for their efforts whereas Vassar scored five tries and converted three.

Vassar College Women  31 v  0 Fairfield University Women
Tries: Leah Dourmashkin (1), Sophia Bailey (2), Jude Robinson (1) & Maddie Sumrow (1).
Cons: Zoe Lynch (3).

The new turf rugby field at Fairfield University was bathed in sunshine and the earlier showers of the day were a distant memory by the time the game kicked off at 12:00 noon. 

Vassar had played Wednesday night in New York and so had less traditional preparation time but the team had looked sharp against Columbia with the only concern for today the amount of recovery time.

The Brewers started well and wing Leah Dourmashkin sliced through the defense to score. Zoe Lynch had no problem with the conversion from quite wide out and it was 7-0.

The forwards were in a very business-like mood and after a number of phases with steady gains there was a gap on the fringe that the third year scrumhalf exploited. Another Lynch conversion and Fairfield was down 0-14.

The Vassar backs with centers Maddie Sumrow and Ella Maniatis working very hard kept the team on the front foot. Sumrow in particular was strong in contact and although she took a pounding never flinched nor waivered. She was a benchmark for her teammates in terms of commitment and effort.

Vassar also spread the ball wide and fullback Jude Robinson had some impressive strong runs. The fullback is a force running with the ball and they broke tackles, stiff armed defenders and collected Vassar's third try.

The work done up front by the forwards was pretty good with Julia Wolff leading by example. Time and. time again the lock forward got Vassar on the front foot. But Vassar lost hooker Emma Niehaus after a goal line attack. An X-ray will be needed but a broken nose is a possibility. Nina Fishman went into the game in place of Niehaus. One hopes that Niehaus will make a quick recovery. Importantly, the forwards kept up their pressure and despite a bruising encounter the work of Mette McKinney, Eleanor Jacoby, Yasmeen Kassem-Scott and the rest of the pack was a major difference in the game.

Fairfield had a couple of attacks getting deep into the Vassar half but there were no clear cut scoring opportunities. Robinson did make two tackles after line breaks but that was about it from the Fairfield attack.

Another try from Bailey after more good work from the forwards made it 26-0 and the half came to a close. The team had put together some good attacking shape using different plans and all had pulled the Fairfield defenders around and created opportunities.

There was some frustration as the breakdown became very messy in the second half and after a first 40 minutes with just 2 penalties conceded suddenly there were multiple infringements. The referee kept putting out his arm and pointing to the team that had infringed but that just confused the players since it looked as if the referee was awarding the penalty to Vassar. There was no explanation and the comment was made to get back 10. The only trouble was neither team knew who should be retiring 10 meters!

Fairfield attacked time and time again but the Vassar defensive effort was good. The home team was driven back from the Vassar goal line multiple times and eventually would knock the ball on or get turned over at the ruck. 

It was particularly fitting that the only try of the second half was scored by Maddie Sumrow and the salt in the wound was that she went around and not through the Fairfield defense. Vassar had recycled the ball well and narrowed the Fairfield defense so when Sabine Weil at 10 passed wider it was a footrace to the line won by Sumrow.

One would be remiss not to mention that Weil had a good game overall moving the ball to a variety of strike runners. In addition she was more physical on defense and when carrying the ball.

Vassar played the entire second half with Jude Robinson and almost two thirds without Emma Niehaus. Then Sophia Bailey went off and Zoe Lynch went into scrumhalf. The team can take heart from the fact that even with these changes they maintained composure, scored to increase the lead and held out Fairfield's attacks.

This win confirms that Vassar will be the number 1 seed in the Conference postseason even with another conference game to play.

This week being fall break, the Brewers will not practice on Monday but start up again on Wednesday. Unfortunately, Columbia University has forfeited their game on Sunday October 20th due to an injury crisis so Vassar is desperately trying to find an opponent as a replacement. There may have to be an intrasquad game since taking a week off is the least beneficial option.

Postseason play commences on October 27th and the opponent will be one of the teams from Marist College, Rutgers University, Stony Brook University and Montclair State University. We do know it will be a home contest for the Brewers.

Team: 15 Jude Robinson 14 Zoe Lynch 13 Ella Maniatis 12 Maddie Sumrow 11 Leah Dourmashkin 10 Sabine Weil 9 Sophia Bailey 1 Andie Authers 2 Emma Niehaus 3 Eleanor Jacoby 4 Julia Wolff 5 Sam Tang 6 Tate Wagner 7 Mette McKiney 8 Yasmeen Kassem-Scott.
Subs: Maggie Nealis for Jude Robinson, Nina Fishman for Emma Niehaus, Nadya LaMarr for Sophia Bailey, Kiki Takata for Sam Tang, AC Smith for Andie Authers.
Record: 7-0-0.
Conference: 5-0-0.

Next: Sunday October 20th, 2024 Vassar College Women v TBA.
(Columbia University forfeited.)