Georgetown, DE -  It's Regional playoff time in the National Collegiate Rugby Fall Championship and that means playing teams from other Conferences. The Vassar College Women's team, the Tri-State Champions, traveled to Georgetoen, Delaware and faced off against Towson University, an At-Large team from the Capital Conference that finished the year in second place with a 6-1 record. The Brewers started well even though there was considerable delay at the venue and never relinquished their grip on this match.

Vassar College Women 57 v 5 Towson University Women
Tries: Sophia Bailey (3), Tate Wagner (2), Jude Robinson (3), Sarah Towne (1), Matty Sumrow (1), Mette McKinney (1).
Cons: Emma Niehaus (1).

If there is one thing that is a certainty at playoff time is that every team comes to play and there is no quitting. Towson battled from start to finish and was putting in solid tackles for the full 80 minutes. That said, Vassar was not seriously challenged defensively as the Tigers offered a predictable attack and the Brewers tackled well enough. One try was conceded late on in the contest that will disappoint the squad and it was a timely reminder that one cannot lose focus.

Sophia Bailey was her usual effervescent self but this year Vassar has more strings to their bow and the play from a number of others stood out and as soon as the opposition chose to focus on the Vassar number 9, gaps appear for teammates. Likewise Jude Robinson at 15 enjoyed a hat-trick of tries and as ever the hard work was done by the others prior to the ball being worked wide. The good news is that they are taking those chances and enjoying their rugby.

The Vassar pack made good yards against the Tiger defense and dealt with any jackal attempts swiftly. There tends to be a very liberal interpretation of the ball being jackaled and a player holding on. At the top levels of the game the defender must usually actually lift the ball and be prevented from taking it as opposed to just having hands on the ball. But in the end it was not an issue for the Brewers as they dominated possession and won their rucks.

Sabine Weil had another strong performance and she was well supported by her cast of outside backs. Matty Sumrow moved back into the center and looked more than comfortable. Ella Maniatis made yards and wingers Dourmashkin and Perkinson caused their defenders plenty of headaches.

In that first half Vassar had to deal with a yellow card and a couple of injuries. 

First Jude Robinson was yellow carded for head contact as two players challenged for a loose ball. Then Maisy Richardson had to be carried off with an ankle problem. Next, Number 8 and co-captain, Yasmeen Kassem-Scott also hobbled off with an ankle issue. The Brewers moved Perkinson to fullback and played short in the pack. Makaela Weldon replaced Richardson going in at flanker and then bumping initially to the wing and later center. Gus Pointer Mace came on for Kassem-Scott and that saw Sarah Towne moved to Number 8.

Playing with 13 and having two starters out was handled pretty well.

Vassar scored 4 unanswered tries in the. first half with Bailey getting 2, Tate Wagner 1 and Robinson 1. The game was very much still in the balance and the onus was on Vassar to be consistent at the breakdown and continue to attack. For the next 40 minutes there was a relentless wave of attacks as Vassar ball carriers marched up the field and territory was earned.

It was only right that Sarah Towne and Matty Sumrow got the next two scores as both worked hard all game. The former ploughed over and Sumrow sliced through leaving tacklers in their wake. 22 points was now 32 and the way back for Towson was all uphill. Emma Niehaus at hooker was all over the field leading the charge, making line breaks and throwing in at the lineout. While she has had better days kicking she more than compensates with her all action game.

Another unsung hero is Mette McKinney who, at flanker, always seems to be in the right place at the right time. Good tackles and a work ethic to die for are her staple diet. Today, she carried as well and was solid in the lineout.

The Vassar pack did leak a couple of penalties for pushing early but it seemed like the Towson forwards were not absorbing the initial engagement.Adapt and don't give penalties away is key moving forward.

Tomorrow, in a quarterfinal round matchup Vassar will face Coastal Carolina University at 2:15 pm. Two years ago the Round of 16 game was a doozy and Vassar edged it 17-15. Carolina has a number of speedsters in their team and thus plenty of threats to upset the applecart. 

But as stated earlier it's playoff time and this is what is to be expected. 

Team: 15 Jude Robinson 14 Rosie Perkinson 13 Ella Maniatis 12 Matty Sumrow 11 Leah Dourmashkin 10 Sabine Weil 9 Sophia Bailey 1 Cae Bardsley-Cutler 2 Emma Niehaus 3 Julia Wolff 4 Tate Wagner 5 Sarah Towne 6 Mette McKinney 7 Maisy Richardson 8 Yasmeen Kassem-Scott.
Subs: Makaela Weldon for Maisy Richardson, Gus Pointer Mace for Yasmeen Kassem-Scott, Elle Carr for Matty Sumrow, Gabby Gitau for Julia Wolff, Rahmat Gambari for Leah Dourmashkin.

2025-26 Record: 10-0-0.

Next: Sunday November 16th, 2025 
National Collegiate Rugby
Fall XVs Championship
Quarterfinal
Vassar College Women versus Coastal Carolina University at Sandhills Sports Complex KO: 2:15 pm