For Immediate Release
College Rugby
Sunday December 4, 2022
Matthews, NC
TRI-STATE CHAMPIONS WIN FALL NATIONAL TITLE
The Vassar College Women defeated the U.S. Coast Guard Academy by the convincing score of 78-24 to win the College Rugby of America Association (CRAA) Fall National title. The Vassar Brewers defeated Temple University, 51-17, in the semifinal on Saturday December 3rd, 2022 . The win on the Sunday is the second consecutive title for the Mid-Hudson based school. In fact, the team won the title for the first time in 2018, finished 4th in 2019 and there was no championship in 2020 but the team won in 2021 and now 2022.
Vassar is proud to represent the Tri-State teams and the competition within the Conference is fierce ensuring that any team that advances is a worthy contender. The Brewers would like to extend special thanks to the Marist College Women and SUNY-New Paltz Women, being the first to send congratulations on social media.
Match Reports
Vassar College Women 51 v 17 Temple University Women
Tries: Asia Baker (5), Julie Geller (1), Isabel Rodriguez (2), Katie Canavan (1).
Cons: Zoe Lynch (3).
In an exciting and close first half of action Temple scored first despite Vassar monopolizing territory and possession and led 7-0. The Vassar Brewers virtually set up camp in the Temple 22-meter area but did not convert the field position into points.
A penalty here and there combined with turnovers and Temple was able to hold Vassar at bay. In fact, the Owls went way better than that, as a loose ball tapped from a lineout bounced into the hands of the Temple fullback just inside the 22. For a moment it looked like the ball would be knocked on but she regathered and then sprinted down the left touchline evading tacklers to give the Owls the lead.
Vassar responded well, marching right down and over the Temple goal line only to have the ball held up and from the ensuing goal line drop out Sophia Bailey scampered to within a few yards of the goal line. The Vassar forwards drove over the ball only for Andie Authers to put a foot in touch as she grounded the ball. The lineout was won by Temple and the fullback opted to kick but did not find touch. Vassar’s fullback Danny White collected the ball and darted down the middle as Vassar immediately made the good field position pay dividends and Asia Baker went over for her first try, picking at a ruck, driving forward and it was a 7-5 scoreline.
Temple then had their best passage of attacking play in the first half for the next 5 minutes. Vassar neglected to build a defensive line at a couple of breakdowns and some determined running by the Owls led to a penalty in the Vassar 22 as Temple took a 12-5 lead after converting a try.
Vassar went back to work and put together multiple phases with the forwards getting over the gain line and after good gains it was loosehead prop Julie Geller who took no prisoners and powered over as was her want. It was just reward for the team and although Temple still had the lead Vassar had regained the momentum at 10-12.
Grace Skakel and Lauren Showalter along with all the forwards now were hitting their stride running off the fringes. The backs too were getting over the gain line.
From the restart, after Geller’s try, Vassar went through 17 phases in 2 minutes 27 seconds with 9 different ball carriers and then Sophia Bailey dived in for a score. Alas, the officials judged that as Bailey grounded the ball it was knocked forward! But the Vassar team had made an emphatic statement that control was theirs and they could move the ball forward.
Some Vassar attacks were thwarted with the ball lost at the breakdown and Temple would clear their lines with kicks. But in not making touch Vassar would regain the ball and control. Just before the half Asia Baker again barreled her way over and with that score Vassar had the lead 15-12.
The second forty minutes was essentially another half of territory and possession dominance but the difference was Vassar cut down on the mistakes. Temple continued to tackle strongly and battle hard but with less turnovers the Brewers were able to add another six tries! Baker added three to her tally while Isabel Rodriguez most deservedly got a couple. Rodriguez has toiled all year getting over the gain line regularly, so to twice make the whitewash was very satisfying.
The first try of the second half was another emphatic statement by the Brewers as they moved the ball from a scrum at center field to the right touchline then went down the middle with a sublime line break by Caeli Porette that was well supported by Claire Zickl. The ball was secured and then the forwards took it to the left before it came back to the middle and Rodriguez smashed over. Zoe Lynch slotted the conversion and it was now 22-12.
In this opening stanza of the second half two plays in particular stood out and were exceptional in terms of work rate and psychology. First Sophia Bailey sprinted almost 60 meters and was hauled down inside the Temple 22. After a quick pick the ball was stolen by Temple and shifted to the right sideline. In hot pursuit was Bailey and she tackled the Temple speedster. Moments later Temple fielded a kick to touch that went into the in-goal and the Temple fullback elected to run it out. The most dangerous Temple open field runner was now attacking but Vassar’s Caeli Porette was not having any of it and they chased her down making a crunching tackle.
Asia Baker plunged over after Kasey Drake had made good yards inside the 22 and it was 29-12. Katie Canavan had a good day with some runs and tackles also collecting a try in the process.
Vassar advances to the Championship game where the opponent will be the U.S. Coast Guard Academy after the Bears defeated Colorado School of Mines 32-17. Kick-off is 12:00 noon and the contest will be live streamed via the Rugby Network.
Team: 15 Danny White 14 Zoe Lynch 13 Caeli Porette 12 Isabel Rodriguez 11 Elise Johnson 10 Kasey Drake 9 Sophia Bailey 1 Julie Geller 2 Katie Canavan 3 Andie Authers 4 Julia Wolff 5 Grace Skakel 6 Louise Ambler 7 Asia Baker 8 Lauren Showalter. Subs: Claire Zickl for Danny White, Yasmeen Kassem-Scott for Andi Authers, Jamie Marinez for Elise Johnson, Sam Tang for Julie Geller.
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Matthews, NC – Senior Caeli Porette was named the Tournament MVP as the Vassar College Women’s Rugby team repeated as the CRAA Women’s Rugby Division II National Champions with a 78-24 victory over the United States Coast Guard Academy. This was a Championship to savor for the Brewers as they traveled to defend their 2021 title with a squad of 38 players, comprised 21 rugby rookies and just four seniors.
Vassar College Women 78 v 24 U.S. Coast Guard Academy Women
Tries: Sophia Bailey (4), Caeli Porette (4), Asia Baker (2), Yasmeen Kassem-Scott (1), Julie Geller (1).
Cons: Zoe Lynch (9)
In the end it was an emphatic win for the Vassar College Women as the team scored 12 tries and winger Zoe Lynch kicked 9 of 12 conversions. But the Brewers turned the ball over at the outset and the Bears went straight to work pushing the ball wide and outstretching the Vassar defense as Coast Guard’s wing Sarah Moore went over for a try.
Vassar restarted and pressured the Coast Guard getting a turnover and the forwards went to work. Keeping things tight and attacking the fringes of the ruck the Brewers entered the opposition 22. But the first of four good strips by Coast Guard defenders allowed the Academy to kick deep and then force a scrum in the Vassar half.
Vassar settled into their picking game but also swung the ball to the backs and at the 12 minute mark, Vassar’s Sophia Bailey settled the nerves diving over to make it 5-7. The freshman scrumhalf had a banner day and by the finish had 4 tries. The second try was an exceptional individual run fom just inside the Vassar half Bailey took a quick tap when a penalty was awarded and ran diagonally to the left wing then cut back to the inside and outdistanced the entire team to score to the right of the right upright! It was sensational and Vassar had the lead.12-7. It also bears mentioning that Bailey was joyous after both the tries scored, jumping up and down, smiling and beaming with pride. This number 9 is no one trick pony for she has also produced some outstanding tackles and rucks dynamically.
The momentum in the game had shifted and the Vassar forward play that had been pretty good to this point kicked into a higher gear. All eight of the pack were making yards, the support was close and there were solid gains by Grace Skakel, Asia Baker and Lauren Showalter.
Vassar struck next through Caeli Porette as they received an offload from inside center Isabel Rodriguez who had made an impressive line break. Porette didn’t make the line but after a couple of phases inside the Coast Guard 22 they were again available with flyhalf Kasey Drake connecting and it was 19-7 as Vassar was able to move the ball upfield and the backs were getting over the gain line as well.
At the next scrum near halfway on the Coast Guard 10-meter line on the right side a poor pass was bobbled by Bailey. The freshman opted to pass it to the backs and uncharacteristically Isabel Rodriguez passed to Porette. The Vassar backs were probably just as surprised as the Coast Guard defenders as Porette sprinted to the left hand corner to score untouched. At 24-7 Coast Guard had to respond and that they did.
Coast Guard had field position and when they moved the ball to the backs they would run switches. Vassar was guilty of giving a couple of penalties away at the breakdown and the Academy swiftly tapped and scored in the left corner. A 24-12 scoreline at the 30 minutes mark was much more respectable and a decent period of possession saw the Bears attack consistently. There was a real urgency and determination about their carries and it resulted in a good try. Fullback Hannah Green went over and it was game on at 24-17.
Vassar now needed to wrestle back the initiative and they did so delivering not one but two telling scores. With five minutes remaining in the half the Brewers drove into the Coast Guard 22 and the forwards bludgeoned their way through the orange and blue defensive line. A penalty allowed Bailey to tap and slither over despite a high tackle. Vassar caught the restart, Porette slammed up the middle breaking the line and the forwards drove relentlessly as a penalty sent the Brewers back but a turnover allowed Vassar to get possession and a high tackle from Coast Guard led to a second yellow card and that meant a red for the player! Down to 14 players for the remainder of the match was always going to be difficult. With the clock past 40 minutes, Vassar struck again through Asia Baker and so in seven minutes the score had gone from 24-17 to 36-17.
In the second half Vassar scored first with Porette slicing over between the sticks. The team was playing with real confidence and the work of the Fall Season was paying dividends. Next up on the scoresheet was freshman Yasmeen Kassem-Scott and later Julie Geller found the whitewash.
It really was a team effort and the close support from the Vassar forwards and the backs getting over the gain line were keys to success while on the defensive side of the ball there was a real intent to pressure the opposition and tackle. The countless hours hitting blue shields and getting good body position in all the contact areas was evident.
Women’s National Collegiate Division II Champions
2018 Vassar College Women’s Rugby
2021 Vassar College Women’s Rugby
2022 Vassar College Women’s Rugby
Team: 15 Claire Zickl 14 Zoe Lynch 13 Caeli Porette 12 Isabel Rodriguez 11 Elise Johnson 10 Kasey Drake 9 Sophia Bailey 1 Julie Geller 2 Katie Canavan 3 Andie Authers 4 Julia Wolff 5 Grace Skakel 6 Louise Ambler 7 Asia Baker 8 Lauren Showalter. Subs: Jamie Marinez for Claire Zickl, Yasmeen Kassem-Scott for Andie Authers, Samuel Tang for Julie Geller, Ariel Birnbaum for Julia Wolff. Subs not used: Sarah Boucher-Rowe, Sarah Winickoff, Madeline Sumrow, Bella Robinson.
Traveling reserves: Annie Adams, Nina Fishman, Yael Tuckman, Maya Winter, Katie Halston, Awien Jel, Lola Yost, Leila Stark, Foster Schrader, Mette McKinney, Sadie Hammarhead.
Injured: Danny White, Claire Dwyer, Maeve Smith, Liz Slein.
Non-traveling reserves: Hannah Charlson, MC Cicenia, Cora Blackwell, Gillian Ciaccio, Sylvia Martinez.