Indianapolis, IN - The National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) Midwest Regional for Division II Women's Teams has 4 teams vying for a Final 4 berth and a national title. Vassar took on the University of Cincinnati Bearcats on a sunny brisk day in Kuntz Stadium in Indianapolis, IN and after a shaky start the Brewers took care of business against a physical and abrasive opponent. There were a number of big individual efforts but in point of fact the team as a whole put in a solid performance.

Vassar Advances to the National Quarterfinal Round

(The Brewers will play Bowling Green State University Women on Sunday at 12:00 noon)

Vassar College Women 38 v 7 University of Cincinnati Women
Tries: Rosie Perkinson (2), Tate Wagner (1), Nadya LaMarr (1), Ella Maniatis (1), AC Smith (1).
Cons: Nadya LaMarr (4).

Vassar started poorly with a few errors in this NCR Round of 16 game. Maybe it was playoff nervousness or the worry of an unfamiliar opponent but in either event it was not the start Vassar wanted. To their credit the players regrouped and kept Cincinnati from scoring in those early stages and in fact, the defensive work was to prove a major factor as Cincinnati threw some big punches with strong runners. 

All the work that has been done to improve the Vassar tackling and the organization of the team defense paid significant dividends. Even when Cincinnati managed to get around the defense, the work of Sabine Weil, Rosie Perkinson and the covering defenders stopped the Bearcats. No doubt more of the same will be needed Sunday in the quarterfinal matchup against Bowling Green State University who swept aside the University of Minnesota-Winona 54-8.

Vassar opened the scoring with a very nice try scored by Rosie Perkinson and it owed much to the good decision making of Weil at number 10 and the platform provided by the forwards. The Vassar team having scored out wide then rolled up their sleeves and played a close quarters game and it was the lock Tate Wagner who went over and the margin was now 12 points as Nadya LaMarr kicked the conversion.

It was LaMarr herself who burst over for try number 3 and another conversion from the in-form kicker gave Vassar a 19 point lead. The It was not all one way traffic as Vassar attacks were punctuated with some Bearcat responses on account of a couple of turnovers that gave away possession.

The Vassar scrum was being penalized as the front row went down a number of times. As is generally the case the Vassar prop argued they were being pulled down but whatever the cause, the net result was penalties against the Brewers. It allowed Cincinnati back in to the contest. 

In the early parts of the game the Cincinnati fringe defense looked offside but the referee was on the far side of the ruck and tended to let it go. However, as the game wore on the referee did give penalties against the defenders and Vassar took full advantage. Some quick penalties caught Cincinnati off guard and Vassar was able to assert more control on the match.

A real highlight of the attack was Vassar's 4th try scored by outside center Ella Maniatis. The hardworking and reliable tackler was rewarded with a try as she sliced through the Bearcats defense and gave Vassar a commanding 26-0 lead. It stayed that way until the half and both teams huddled to discuss matters and address the next 40.

Even though Vassar had put the points on the board the game still felt very combative. The physical challenge of the Cincinnati forwards making some big hits and the constant threat of their outside backs held Vassar's focus. The Bearcats scored in the first 15 minutes of the second half to give them a glimmer of comeback hope at 7-26. The try was fashioned with a wild two handed over the head pass and well finished but it wasn't exactly the blueprint for more scores.

The second forty minutes was turning into a real battle and neither side was able to create clearcut chances. The Vassar tackling often involved big double tackles and Cincinnati ball carriers were driven back. There were only a few times that players slipped off tackles but the gang mentality prevailed. Fullback Rosie Perkinson made a couple of excellent open field one on one tackles to prevent a try being scored and that inspired her teammates to hustled back and set up defensively. Kudos to all the team for making tackles and most importantly being in position to make those tackles.

Vassar kept pressing and Number 8 Emma Niehaus, who had a monster game both with ball in hand and defensively, almost scored in the right hand corner before AC Smith went through and put the ball down emphatically. That score was followed by Perkinson's second and a scoreline of 38-7 told the story.

Vassar had played an abrasive, big and physical team employing an abrasive and physical manner and fashioned 6 tries while at the same time only conceding 1 that involved a "Hail Mary" pass. Cincinnati at 6-2-0 has averaged 54 points a game this fall so the measure of this performance must be the quality of the defending.

Saturday is a rest day for the Brewers and students will be doing homework and recuperating. Hopefully lock Jo Ellis will be fit again and she'll get an opportunity to play this weekend. 

Team: 15 Rosie Perkinson 14 Nadya LaMarr 13 Ella Maniatis 12 Makaela Weldon 11 Sadye Krell 10 Sabine Weil 9 Leah Dourmashkin 1 Cai Bardsley-Cutler 2 AC Smith 3 Gabby Gitau 4 Ellie Carr 5 Tate Wagner 6 Eleanor Jacoby 7 Annika Szturma 8 Emma Niehaus
Subs: Dea Edwards for Cai Bardsley-Cutler, Chloe Ellis for Leah Dourmashkin.

Overall Team Record: 10-0-0

It was a big day for the Tri-State Conference teams as 3 reached the last 8. Vassar, Fairfield University and Marist University all won their round of 16 games. Fairfield will face the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire on Sunday in Springfield, MO and Marist take on Coastal Carolina University in Rock Hill, SC

For the full picture of the Championship go to: 
https://ncr.rugby/xvs-nationals/?xv_gender=womens&xv_division=dii#playoff-schedules