Poughkeepsie, NY -  The Vassar College Women's Rugby team defeated Fairfield University for the third time this season but this was the one that really counted. The Brewers took the Conference Championship scoring seven tries and conceding just one and the win earned the team a ticket to the National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) playoffs and a place in the Sweet 16 next Saturday.

Vassar College Women 37 v 7 Fairfield University Women
Tries: Jude Robinson (4), Sophia Bailey (2), Emma Niehaus (1).
Cons: Zoe Lynch (1).

Vassar played two regular season games against Fairfield this Fall and won them 37-7 and 31-0 but today at Vassar Farm the Conference title was on the line. The Brewers could have been forgiven for showing early nerves as all the pressure was on them to win but they got right into stride and in fact scored after four minutes of play. During that opening stanza 13 of the 15 Vassar players carried the ball, there were no knock-ons or dropped passes and Fairfield had to make 18 tackles as Vassar won 17 rucks. Fullback Jude Robinson had been stopped on the right wing in the build up but moments later ran strongly down the left flank and scored when they stiff-armed the winger and dived over. Vassar led 5-0.

The thing is Fairfield have only lost to Vassar this Fall and have had convincing wins in their other regular season match-ups. Last weekend they put 68 points on Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the Lady Stags came into this contest with their usual combative approach. The visitors got back into the contest in terms of some territory as Vassar gave away a number of penalties but the defense held and again it was Robinson who was the beneficiary of the Vassar steady supply of possession and the score was 10-0. Zoe Lynch was having to make kicks from the touchline and although the ball was struck well it was off target.

Fairfield finally managed to get into the Vassar 22 and from a penalty ran right and offloaded and the wing was tackled on the goal line and it wasn't clear that the ball had been grounded. It was academic for the tackle was clearly high and a penalty try was correctly awarded by the referee and the yellow card issued to Vassar's wing Leah Dourmashkin. Now despite dominating all the early exchanges it was 10-7 and Fairfield was within one score.

Vassar had an emphatic response and the forwards drove over for a try with hooker Emma Niehaus the scorer. Back on the field having had a broken nose earlier this fall she and her teammates were jubilant. So at the half it was 15-7.

The Brewers went to work in the second half and although there were moments of concern over individual decisions the tries kept coming much like The Beatles hits in their hay day. Sophia Bailey collected two and is continuing to improve and Sabine Weil worked the ball to Jude Robinson for another brace.

While it was Bailey and Robinson who scored there were some outstanding contributions from others. In particular Ella Maniatis at outside center who caught passes and tackled her heart out. Vassar's Maddie Sumrow must be a big Pink Floyd fan as they consistently ran into a wall of defenders but never wavered in terms of purpose or courage.

It is critical to also pay tribute to all the players in the squad as each has contributed all through this fall season. The exciting first year students, the sophomore class, the juniors and of course all our seniors. Working hard, challenging each other, encouraging teammates, playing the games  and practicing with intent to get better are all part of the journey.

This team still has a lot more to give and needs to keep improving if it is to win the national title. There are difficult opponents ahead and concentration allied to commitment and hard work could well produce the desired result.

Both Vassar and Fairfield advance to the NCR Round of 16 and will be in different regions. Vassar will travel south to Culpeper, VA and face the University of New Hampshire while Fairfield goes to Canton, MA and plays against Roger Williams University. (See the unofficial brackets attached below).

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: AC Smith for Andie Authers, Nina Fishman for Yasmeen Kassem-Scott, Makaela Weldon for Sophia Bailey.

Record: 11-0-0.
Conference: 9-0-0.

Next: Saturday & Sunday, November 16 & 17, 2024 at the National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) South Regional in Culpeper, VA for the Round of 16 and quarterfinals.
Saturday November 16, 2024 Vassar College Women v University of New Hampshire Women, kick-off 1:00 pm at the Culpeper Sports Complex, Culpeper, VA