Burlington, VT - The Vassar College Women's Rugby team traveled to Burlington, VT and faced the hosts University of Vermont as well as U.Mass., Amherst. Vassar is without a whole slew of starters this spring, so just 22 women departed campus for the trek north. First up was U.Mass., whom Vassar had played the weekend prior to Easter, and they were without some starters on account of participating in a Sevens Tournament. Vassar made quick work of that contest but then it was UVM on the docket and this was nip tuck the whole way.

Vassar College Women 72 v 0 U.Mass., Amherst Women 
Tries: Maureen Regan (4), Annika Szturma (1), Rosie Perkinson (2), Dea Edwards (2), Maisy Richardson (2) & Rahmat Gambari (1).
Cons: Chloe Ellis (6).

The Vassar team was given a mandate to impose their game on the opposition and apart from a few knock-ons in the first half it did just that and then some. Good ball placement, hard running and quick breakdown ball had the U.Mass players chasing shadows.

The clean quick ball won up front was just what Sabine Weil and the backs wanted. Centers Rahmat Gambari and Mo Regan armed up their opposite number and made big yards on multiple carries. 5 of those carries resulted in tries with junior Mo Regan cantering over for 4 and Rahmat Gambari adding one.

At the half Vassar rang the changes so all of the squad played. Emi Mitchell came on for Mette McKinney, Meg Carpenter came on for Julia Wolff, Ava Rowland went to 9 and Maisy Richardson shifted to the center position with Rahmat going to fullback. Perkinson went on the wing, all of which meant that Sabine Weil departed and Chloe Ellis moved into the flyhalf spot. O Arteaga-Johnson replaced Sydney Oren and Yasmine Kassem-Scott took a rest. Apart from one regular A-side player this was Vassar's developmental players. 

The squad will take a look at the video to learn many lessons from this match as the second half was a more closely fought affair. One glaring aspect that needs to be addressed is adding pace to the ball, easier said than done.

Team: 15 Rosie Perkinson 14 Chloe Ellis 13 Mo Regan 12 Rahmat Gambari 11 Sadye Krell 10 Sabine Weil 9 Maisy Richardson 1 Cai Bardsley-Cutler 2 Annika Szturma 3 Sydney Oren 4 Julia Wolff 5 Dea Edwards 6 Mette McKinney 7 Ellie Carr 8 Yasmine Kassem-Scott. Subs: Ava Rowland for Sabine Weil, O. Arteaga-Johnson for Sydney Oren, Jo Ellis for Dea Edwards, Meg Carpenter Julia Wolff, Emi Mitchell for Mette McKinney and Dora Chen for Yasmine Kassem-Scott.

Vassar College Women 24 v 20 University of Vermont Women 
Tries: Rosie Perkinson (1), Yasmeen Kassem-Scott (1) & Maureen Regan (2).
Cons: Chloe Ellis (2).

UVM had originally scheduled this game as their B-side XV to play but buoyed by a win earlier in the day against U.Mass., Amherst and having had players play against Salve Regina it was clear that the A-side was facing the Brewers. 

The hosts have a number of speedy athletes as well as some powerful forwards so Vassar fielded the same starting lineup as earlier. A-side regulars Bardsley-Cutler, Wolff, McKinney, Kassem-Scott, Weil and Perkinson would hopefully provide the necessary leadership and direction and the developmental players around them would learn what is needed to fashion a win. It was to prove a very challenging match as Vassar fell behind to a very exuberant and confident UVM.

In fact, there were 5 lead changes in all and it was only in the final 10 minutes that Vassar first went ahead and that was short lived, but the Brewers would have the last word to clinch the win.

A couple of unforced errors gave the Catamounts field position as Vassar played with a strong breeze in their face. The direct running of the forwards put Vassar on the back foot and it was 5-0 to the home team. The response was just what the doctor ordered and after some good partial line breaks the ball was swung wide to Rosie Perkinson who slithered through to even matters up at 5-5. But that didn't dent the UVM enthusiasm and they came roaring back to go up 10-5 and Vassar was struggling to get the ball and thus unable to apply pressure. The Vassar defense was too passive and tacklers in good position were allowing the ball carrier to gain extra yards so territory was sacrificed. In addition, Vassar was setting up defensively, allowing UVM to get clean ball. UVM complimented their front foot ball with some close offloading and it paid dividends as they got behind the defensive line. Scrambling back Vassar settled for defensive alignment and the cycle repeated!

The second half started poorly. A knock-on gave UVM a scrum 15 meters out from the goal line and then a missed tackle on the narrow side saw a try scored and it was 15-5. UVM was riding high.

UVM was also able to apply pressure to the Vassar scrum and there were a couple of times the Brewers were driven back on their own ball.

However, Vassar put their heads down and worked hard to get back into the match with some good continuity and eventually veteran Number 8 Yasmeen Kassem-Scott picked and went over. Chloe Ellis slotted the conversion and it was 15-12, a one score game with about 15 minutes left.

It was time for some heroics, cue Vassar's rookie center Mo Regan. In just her 4th game of rugby she used some very nifty footwork to split the UVM defense and then showed some decent pace to score. Finally, Vassar led 19-15 and although it was still anyone's game it seemed a killer score.

But it's never over until it's over! Vassar again butchered the restart, UVM was close to the goal line and the Brewers were under the cosh. In fact, UVM went over from a pick but were held up in-goal. A rush of blood to Sabine Weil's head saw her take the goal line restart to the side with no Vassar players and the ball went, inconveniently for Vassar, directly to a UVM player just 20 yards away! Despite some staunch defense UVM retook the lead 20-19.

But it's never over until it's over! Vassar regained possession and set about attacking UVM. Weil made amends with a delicious pass to Regan and the center tore through again beating the cover and fullback to score under the posts. Vassar led 24-20 and although UVM pressured the Brewers the final whistle went and it was Vassar's 16th win of the year with just 2 losses to date.

Credit is due all who traveled this sunny Saturday and with the Beast of the East Tournament next weekend there is much we can improve further.

Team: 15 Rosie Perkinson 14 Chloe Ellis 13 Mo Regan 12 Rahmat Gambari 11 Sadye Krell 10 Sabine Weil 9 Maisy Richardson 1 Cai Bardsley-Cutler 2 Annika Szturma 3 Sydney Oren 4 Julia Wolff 5 Dea Edwards 6 Mette McKinney 7 Ellie Carr 8 Yasmine Kassem-Scott. Subs: Meg Carpenter for Sydney Oren, Ava Rowland, O. Arteaga-Johnson, Jo Ellis, Emi Mitchell and Dora Chen.

Next: Saturday & Sunday April 18 & 19, 2026 Vassar College Women at The Beast of the East Tournament in Portsmouth, RI

Record 2025-26: 16-2-0