Poughkeepsie, NY - In oppressively hot conditions on the new artificial turf rugby field that Marist has installed, the Vassar Women first subdued the Marist attack and then went on a solid scoring spree maintaining their unbeaten start to the year. Vassar led 21-0 at the half but cut loose in the second 40 minutes doubling their first half try tally.

Vassar College Women 57  v 7 Marist University Women
Tries: Jude Robinson (1), AC Smith (1), Sarah Towne (2), Leah Dourmashkin (1), Yasmeen Kassem-Scott (2), Rahmat Gambari (1) & Maisy Richardson (1).
Cons: Sarah Towne (4) & Nadya LaMarr (2).

Last Fall in the Conference semifinal game the Marist University Women came the closest to defeating Vassar of all opponents, falling 39-33 at Vassar Farm. This Fall the Red Foxes had recently tied with Fairfield University 26-26 and had some dangerous backs, so this was a much anticipated match-up.

Vassar was out of the blocks fairly quickly and Sabine Weil sent a long pass out wide to fullback Jude Robinson to give the Brewers a 7-0 lead within the first 5 minutes of play. Marist responded going through 15 phases before the referee stopped play on account of a high tackle back after the 11th phase, and the home team opted to kick for touch. It seemed that Vassar would have some defending to do. 

The Marist set piece was not particularly strong and in fact Vassar's lineout left a bit to be desired but the next 10 minutes saw the home team get into the Vassar half and apply some pressure. One line break left Vassar's fullback Jude Robinson with an important tackle to make and they did not disappoint. Vassar managed to get upfield again and a pick from a ruck by prop AC Smith led to a try for Smith. Vassar's Sarah Towne had the kicking duties and the Brewers now led 14-0.

At the restart Vassar was a tad fortunate as it seemed Number 8 Yasmeen Kassem-Scott looked to carry the ball back in-goal to touch it down but the referee felt the ball was over the line and gave a scrum center field. Marist had found it hard enough to establish field position and this was another setback. Vassar drove upfield and lock Sarah Towne went over to make it 21-0 when she converted her own try.

Marist kicked deep again and Sophia Bailey fielded the ball just yards from her own goal line. Although the scrumhalf ran it back beating a couple of defenders she was clearly not at full tilt. It would not be long before she was replaced and wing Leah Dourmashkin took the helm guiding the team for the remainder of the match as Nadya LaMarr came on to the wing.

Vassar finished the half with an impressive sequence of phases as Dourmashkin ran matters. The Vassar backs and forwards combined over 21 phases to march from their own 10 meters line, going a full 60 meters, to the Marist goal line only to get held up. The Vassar center pairing of Weldon and Maniatis rounded off an impressive first half with good carries having also stymied the Marist backs. 

In that last period of play, Marist defenders had made 3 or 4 outstanding tackles that drove the Vassar ball carriers back but the ball placement and support was good and it allowed the Brewers to retain possession. Just 3 tries and a scoreline of 21-0 suggested that there was still plenty of work to do and either team could come out on top.

Apart from an initial knock-on Vassar continued where it had left off and went through multiple phases to get in the Marist half. Ella Maniatis burst through and then the fast rucks produced front foot ball and Marist was back peddling. Once in the Marist 22 Dourmashkin tapped and ran in for a good score and it was 26-0 as Towne missed the conversion.

A carbon copy with Maniatis and Weldon having big runs and the forwards running on to the ball saw Kassem-Scott score and Towne's conversion made it 33-0. It was now clear that Marist was running low on ammunition but to their credit there were still some good tackles being put in.

Further scores came as Vassar was able to impose their attack on the opposition and break down the defense. Towne, Rahmat Gambari and Kassem-Scott and Maisy Richardson added scores before there was a consolation try for Marist. The second 40 had seen Marist put together phases but all too often they went laterally and needed more forward momentum.

The Brewers improve to 4-0-0 and will travel to Troy, NY next Saturday to take on the Engineers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Team: 15 Jude Robinson 14 Matty Sumrow  13 Ella Maniatis 12 Makaela Weldon 11 Leah Dourmashkin 10 Sabine Weil 9 Sophia Bailey 1 Cae Bardsley-Cutler 2 AC Smith 3 Julia Wolff 4 Tate Wagner 5 Sarah Towne 6 Mette McKinney 7 Lydia Hong 8 Yasmeen Kassem-Scott.
Subs: Nadya LaMarr for Sophia Bailey, Ina Zaslavsky for Tate Wagner, Maisy Richardson for AC Smith, Rahmat Gambari for Mette McKinney.

Vassar College Women B 33 v 5 Marist University Women B
Tries: Sabine Weil (1), Dea Edwards (1), Maisy Richardson (2), Sadya Krell (1)
Cons: Nadya LaMarr (4).

This may have been a shortened game between the less experienced players on the respective Vassar and Marist squads but it did have some shape and 6 tries in total were scored. Vassar did have Sabine Weil playing in the second row and in open play she was a threat as evidenced by the try scored but that was after Marist had taken the lead. The direct running from the Marist ball carriers caught the Vassar defense flat footed and it was 5-0 to the home team after just a few minutes.

But Vassar got into stride and it was great to see Maggie Nealis on the field again after a long time out recovering from injury. Nealis played fly half and although unfamiliar with the position did an admirable job. She was able to launch the back division that included Nadya LaMarr and Sadye Krell with both making good yards when in possession. Krell not only scored a try later but also had a monster tackle that sent a clear and ominous message to the Marist backs, ball carriers beware the Krellanator is in town!

After the early setback Vassar did get some decent attacking shape and good carries from Gus Pointer Mace, Ina Zaslavsky and the pack generally allowed the ball to be pushed wider. First year student Dea Edwards put Vassar further ahead when she broke through and scampered over the goal line and 14-5 looked a lot better than the slim 7-5 margin.

Maisy Richardson collected a brace scoring Vassar's third and fifth tries with Krell's opportunistic score sandwiched in between. Meanwhile Vassar's Rahmat Gambari had some lengthy runs counter attacking from the Marist clearance kicks. All in all it was a good day to be wearing the Vassar colors.

Team: 15 Rahmat Gambari 14 Dora Chen 13 Sadye Krell 12 Nadya Lamarr 11 Megan Carpenter 10 Maggie Nealis 9 Maisy Richardson 1 Gabby Gitau 2 Sydney Oren 3 Dea Edwards 4 Ina Zaslavsky 5 Sabine Weil 6 Annika Szturma 7 Gus Pointer Mace 8 Jo Ellis. Subs: Maklaela Weldon for Sabine Weil, Sarah Towne for Gus Pointer Mace.

2025-26 Record: 4-0-0.

Next: Saturday October 4th, 2025 Vassar College Women at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Women KO: 12:00 pm