Poughkeepsie, NY -  A disciplined performance that included a number of changes in personnel and position was too much for a spirited Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute team. The Engineers do bring a good intensity to the field and the players run hard when in possession. But Vassar managed to starve the visitors of the ball and when not in possession was organized defensively. It led to a try tally of 14 and a comprehensive victory.

Vassar College Women 74 v 7 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Women
Tries: Sarah Towne (2), Sophia Bailey (4), Matty Sumrow (2), Tate Wagner (1), Emma Niehaus (1), Jude Robinson (1), Sabine Weil (1), Nadya LaMarr (1) & Maisy Richardson (1).
Cons: Emma Niehaus (2).

The Brewers took a conservative approach in this conference semifinal game and it paid early dividends with tries for Sarah Towne, Sophia Bailey and Matty Sumrow. The platform laid by the forwards was solid and apart from a few turnovers at the tackle Vassar's scrumhalf Sophia Bailey was given quality ball to distribute. 

Vassar was without inside center Makaela Weldon so Matty Sumrow stepped into a familiar role with ease. Sumrow is playing the best rugby of their career this season and partnered Ella Maniatis all last year so it was not really a disruption at all. Later in the game the Vassar left wing, Leah Dourmashkin, went to 12 and it too was essentially a seamless transition.

The forwards worked steadily throughout and 4 of the team's tries were scored by them. The main beneficiary behind this pack on the front foot is the Number 9 and Bailey bagged a further 3 tries.

One intriguing matchup was the Rensselaer number 13 and Vassar fullback Jude Robinson. Earlier in the year Robinson made a try saving tackle following a line break and later was tackled very hard by the aforementioned outside center and had to leave the game. In today's contest they went at it again and Robinson did a good job scoring as well as stopping an attack.

The halftime score was 42-0 and Vassar made some changes but the die had been cast and a second 40 minutes yielded a further 6 tries although Rensselaer did score a good try when a tackle was missed.

It was encouraging to see players getting time in different roles and others starting to improve on their basics. Maisy Richardson tackled and ran hard. Rosie Perkinson went to the wing, fullback and center and looked comfortable in all 3 positions. Chloe Ellis filled in well at flyhalf and only Sabine Weil looked a tad short of pace on the wing. She had been banished there on account of her end of the first half kick attempt that did not find touch.

This win means that the Brewers are assured of a playoff spot in the National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) Championship Regional round. The Tri-State Conference gets two AQs (Automatic Qualifiers) so next week will determine if the team is the Conference #1 or #2. The opponent will be Fairfield University as they defeated Marist College today 39-12 in the other semifinal.

The NCR Fall Championship details can be accessed at ncr.rugby
https://www.ncr.rugby/nationals/2025-womens-championship-division-ii

Team: 15 Jude Robinson 14 Rosie Perkinson 13 Ella Maniatis 12 Matty Sumrow 11 Leah Dourmashkin 10 Sabine Weil 9 Sophia Bailey 1 Julia Wolff 2 Emma Niehaus 3 Cai Bardsley Cutler 4 Tate Wagner 5 Sarah Towne 6 Mette McKinney 7 Lydia Hong 8 Yasmeen Kassem-Scott. Subs: Chloe Ellis for Jude Robinson, Maisy Richardson for Yasmeen Kassem-Scott, Rahmat Gambari for Ella Maniatis & Nadya LaMarr for Sabine Weil.

2025-26 Record: 8-0-0.

Next: Saturday November 8, 2025 

Tri-State Conference Championship Game
Vassar College Women v Fairfield University Women at Vassar Farm.
Kick-off 12:00 pm (KO time to be confirmed).