Vassar women have moved to 3-0 after a well-taken 39-14 win over Fairfield University.

Vivika Sheppard scored two tries for the Brewers with Emily Howell, Lauren Showalter, Sophia Tang, Louise Ambler, and Maeve Smith all getting a try each.

This was the first home game for Vassar in a year and a half. The shutdown has had a deep affect on the college teams, with many women's teams struggling for numbers and for experience. Fairfield, who beat Stony Brook the week before, were concerned about their young players and as a result this game was shortened to allow an extra period for rookies.

The opening half was all Vassar as they monopolized the ball and scored early through Sheppard at fullback. She got her second soon thereafter and then Howell sniped in on the blindside from a scrum. Showalter's try made it 22-7 at halftime.

Vassar rang the changes in the second period and Smith slotted in a flyhalf. She scored a try but injured her knee later on and had to leave the game.

So basically it was a game where the experienced players showed well, and helped the newer players figure it out. That could be said of Fairfield, too, as they competed despite the difficulties.

Vassar is perhaps the most active team in the American College Rugby Association (ACRA) so far. ACRA includes the Tri-State Conference, MARC, Rugby Northeast, and New England-Wide Collegiate Rugby Conference. Those other three have not yet begun their league seasons, with Rugby Northeast set to kick off this coming weekend with six games on the slate.