Game 1
Vassar College Women 78 v 0 Wentworth Institute of Technology
Tries: Sarah Towne (3), Leah Dourmashkin (2), Maisy Richardson (1), AC Smith (1), Danny White (2), Maritza Flores (2), Makaela Weldon (1), Rahmat Gambari (2).
Cons: Sarah Towne (4).

To give context to this match the Wentworth Institute team plays at the Division III level and it's a big ask of them to compete against the current National Division II Champions. But Vassar fielded a team with only 4 starters from that December winning lineup and 2 of those players were taken off at half time.

This past few weeks the Vassar squad have been practicing 15s along with some 7s but the emphasis has been on the former game. Last week was a particularly interesting 3 sessions as the B-side players have really come together and performed with a lot of cohesion and confidence. The halfback partnership of Richardson and Ellis looked very comfortable allied to Sarah Towne at Number 8 and didn't skip a beat when Lydia Hong went in at 9.

The forwards as a unit were rock solid, sourcing the rucks well and ensuring continuity. The game began perfectly for Vassar as Sarah Towne caught the kickoff and ran right through to score under the posts! Wentworth's tackling was suspect and immediately every Vassar player fancied their chances when making carries. Vassar's signature rucking and hard running meant that Wentworth never had a moment to catch their breath and by halftime Vassar had sprinted out to a 44-0 lead.

What was most impressive was that Vassar mistakes were few and the team played to the edges of the field using the backs in quick succession before the forwards got in on the act.

The standard had been set and it was on to the second pool game against the University of Vermont who had earlier defeated Wentworth and is a legitimate Division II team.

Team: 15 Rahmat Gambari 14 Danny White 13 Zoe Lynch 12 Makaela Weldon 11 Leah Dourmashkin 10 Chloe Ellis 9 Maisy Richardson 1 AC Smith 2 Maritza Flores 3 Nina Fishman 4 Elle Carr 5 Zoey Ojavlo 6 Kiki Takata 7 Tate Wagner 8 Sarah Towne.
Subs: Lydia Hong for Maisy Richardson, Foster Schrader for Leah Dourmashkin, Cae Bardsley-Cutler for AC Smith & Gus Pointer Mace for Tate Wagner.

Game 2
Vassar College Women 44 v 0 University of Vermont Women
Tries: Sophia Bailey (3), Jude Robinson (3), Yasmeen Kassem-Scott (1), Sabine Weil (1).
Cons: Zoe Lynch (2).

The Catamounts are rebuilding after no action this past Fall Season. They have a pack with size and pace, good athletes and a number 10 who is very accomplished. But experience and cohesion are strong suits for the Vassar team and for this game the lineup was mostly A-side starters from the Fall. Back into the team came All-Americans Sophia Bailey, sabine Weil and Jude Robinson at 9, 10 and 15 respectfully. Most importantly, up front the Vassar forwards were fresh and keen to stamp their authority on the match. 

The most impressive skill of the day for Vassar was the work at the breakdown. Time and time again the work of the first two people arriving at the ruck attacking the would-be poacher's hands and driving through to secure possession was outstanding. Tate Wagner, Yasmeen Kassem-Scott Julia Wolff and all the pack were quick to the breakdown and did this essential work. Teams that look to poach or jackal will be dealt with and no prisoners taken!

Sophia Bailey used her pace to score two lovely tries  and put Vassar in the driving seat. Then Jude Robinson smashed through on a good line. Bailey collected her third try and the constant front foot ball was paying dividends.

All this scoring is possible because the Vassar forwards are working so hard to get clean ball and doing an excellent job. The try scorers get their names in the reports but on the back of the ball winners like Eleanor Jacoby, Emma Niehaus and the pack.

The other aspect of Vassar's game that has grown and continues to mature is the team defense. Vermont had some strong ball carriers but they were held in check other than a couple of line breaks.

Vassar scored 22 points in each half and one of the tries of the day was a scorching run from Vassar flyhalf Sabine Weil near the end of the game. The California resident spotted a gap and flew through it untouched. Vermont players gave chase but to no avail. 

The performance had stuttered at times with the odd error but the effort was always 100% from the players. Final score Vassar 44 and Vermont 0.

Team: 15 Jude Robinson 14 Zoe Lynch 13 Ella Maniatis 12 Makaela Weldon  11 Nadya LaMarr 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 Annie Adams 8 Yasmeen Kassem-Scott.
Subs: AC Smith for Andie Authers & Elle Carr for Tate Wagner.

Game 3 - Semifinal
Vassar College Women 57 v 0 University of Vermont Women

Tries: Sam Tang (2), Sabine Weil (1), Yasmeen Kassem-Scott (1), Jude Robinson (1), Sophia Bailey (1),  Emma Niehaus (1), Danny White (2).
Cons: Nadya LaMarr (6).

The tournament format was such that Vassar finished as the top seed and the University of Vermont was fourth. So the Brewers took to the field again against the team they had beaten just earlier! On the other side of the draw Marist University had to face SUNY-Binghamton also for the second time in the day as the 2 and 3 seeds went head-to-head.

Vassar tinkered with their lineup a tad but the formula was to be the same. Deny the opposition the ball at every opportunity and keep working for each other, particularly at the breakdown.

Vassar got off to a flying start when Sam Tang scooted through to score after multiple phases involving forwards and backs. Moments later Sabine Weil sliced through from deep in her own half and out sprinted the defense for a killer score. Yasmeen Kassem-Scott was rewarded for all the hard work she has put in and before one could say Robert's your father's brother it was 19-0. Vermont was game but had lost a couple of players from the first game and was now facing an uphill battle with the peak out of sight.

Again it was the work at the breakdown that was helping Vassar maintain control. Rucking, driving the opponent back and getting over the gain line was critical.

Vassar looked like they had picked up from when playing in the Final 4 last December and Vermont was unable to stem the tide.

The Brewers will face Marist University in the Championship game tomorrow and that promises to be a knock down drag out affair. Last year in this very same tournament the teams met in the final and it went down to the wire with Vassar digging very deep and prevailing 22-20. "It's going to be hard, it's supposed to hard."

Team: 15 Jude Robinson 14 Danny White 13 Ella Maniatis 12 Nadya LaMarr  11 Leah Dourmashkin 10 Sabine Weil 9 Sophia Bailey 1 Nina Fishman 2 Emma Niehaus 3 Eleanor Jacoby 4 Annie Adams 5 Sam Tang 6 Kiki Takata 7 Sarah Towne 8 Yasmeen Kassem-Scott.
Subs: Lydia Hong for Ella Maniatis, Chloe Ellis for Sabine Weil, Maisy Richardson for Sophia Bailey & Gus Pointer Mace for Yasmeen Kassem-Scott.

Next: Sunday April 13, 2025 Vassar College Women at The Beast of the East Tournament versus Marist University in the Championship game, kick-off 1:00 pm