Houston, TX -  This match-up has become a regular fixture in the collegiate rugby playoff calendar over the past decade. The Vassar College Brewers took on the U.S. Coast Guard Academy for the 9th time in the Fall Championship playoffs and it was all action from start to finish. At stake was a place in the Championship game and the opponent was to be the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, the defending champions, who earlier had dispatched the University of Cincinnati 36-0. Vassar had fallen to UWEC last year 29-32 while the Coast Guard Academy was keen to make amends for the semifinal loss 38-48 last year.

Vassar College Women 39 v 27 U.S. Coast Guard Academy Women
Tries: Jude Robinson (3), Sophia Bailey (2), Leah Dourmashkin (1) & Tate Wagner (1).
Cons: Zoe Lynch (2).

Right from the kickoff and receipt of the ball, the Vassar ball carriers exploded out of the blocks and won all the early collisions. Vassar dictated the pace of the game and it was fullback Jude Robinson who opened the Vassar account with a strong run after the forwards had carried well. It turned out to be a very special day for Robinson as they scored a hattrick and also had a fourth try called back right at the end of the contest.

Vassar wasted no time going further ahead as Sophia Bailey dived in from 5 meters out and then Zoe Lynch was successful with the conversion which made it 12-0 after 7 minutes of play.

But the Academy replied with an outstanding individual effort and the number 8 sprinted from their 22, slipped a tackle and then rounded fullback Robinson with a good step to score making it 12-5. Vassar knew going into the contest that missed tackles would be punished and such was the case.

The Vassar response was immediate and it was Robinson who again ran well to round 3 defenders and intelligently centered the ball so it was a 7-pointer and Vassar led 19-5 and the clock read 13 minutes and 11 seconds.

For the remainder of the half possession and territory was dominated by Coast Guard as the cadets tried to pierce the Vassar defense. Multiple phases saw the Connecticut school stymied and at one point the ball was held up over the goal line by Sophia Bailey. Basically for about 20 minutes Vassar defended and held out. There were periods of possession for Vassar but the team struggled to get out of their own half.

The start of the second half saw Coast Guard get on to the front foot and when their center slipped through she was well supported and despite a good tackle near the line the offload found the Coast Guard wing and it was now 19-10.

Vassar came roaring back and scored 3 tries at 47 minutes, 51 minutes and 55 minutes. The Coast Guard must have been stunned as Laeh Dourmashkin went over then Tate Wagner scored and Jude Robinson got their third. Any neutral must have thought that at 34-10 the Coast Guard was now toast. But the cadets showed great character and scored 2 tries to keep everyone on the edge of their seats. At 34-22 Vassar's Bailey nipped around the side of a ruck and went over to make it 39-22 and although the Coast Guard scored in the 72nd minute to make it 39-27 it was Vassar who pressed at the end. Robinson went over but the try was called back for obstruction but looking at the video it seemed a somewhat harsh decision as the defender "obstructed" was a long, long way from being able to even attempt a tackle. But that's the breaks and Vassar advances to the Championship game.

Vassar will not have been fully happy with the defense in the second half but the team kept enough shape to see them through to the final.

Last year Vassar led 29-27 against UWEC with 7 minutes left and this group knows they must shore up the defense for the full 80 minutes. 

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, Nina Fishman, Sarah Towne, Kiki Takata, Nadya LaMarr, Rosie Perkinson, Lydia Hong & Makaela Weldon.

Record: 14-0-0.
Conference: 9-0-0.

Next: Sunday, December 8, 2024 The National Collegiate Rugby Women's Division II National Championship game - Vassar College Women v University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, in Houston, TX at SaberCats Stadium, kickoff 2:00 pm (local time) 3:00 pm EST.