Maritime Women's Football League
2009 Game Summaries

Preseason

SAINT JOHN - After winning the Maritime Women's Football League title in 2008, members of the Saint John Storm aren't expecting any gifts for the 2009 campaign.

In fact, Storm head coach Larry Harlow said his squad is preparing for what he thinks will be the most competitive circuit since the MWFL was formed in 2004.

"I expect this is going to be a tough year," Harlow said as his team of 25 players ran drills during a practice this week at Millidgeville North field.

The 10-a-side, four-team circuit consists of Saint John, Moncton, Fredericton's Capital Area Gladiators and the Halifax Xplosion.

The Storm visit the Moncton Vipers at Rocky Stone field for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff.

"I think we'll see excellent play in the league because of what happened last season," Harlow said.

He refers to the Storms' league domination in 2008, when the team went undefeated and outscored its opposition by a remarkable 192-14 count in the regular season. The Storm claimed the Maritime SupHer Bowl after downing Moncton 24-14 in the championship match.

Saint John's banner year came after a two-year drought when the Capital Area Gladiators won back-to-back championships.

"Fredericton raised the bar for two years before us, and teams had to rise up and meet them or watch (the Gladiators) take another championship," Harlow said.

"I remember driving home (in 2007) and thinking it was time for us to raise the bar."

Harlow figures the other teams in the league had similar reflections at the end of last season and will come out of the gates this summer fighting for retribution.

"When you're sitting on the top of the pile, everybody plays twice as hard to knock you off," he said.

In order to make their comeback in the Maritime football scene last year, Harlow said the Storm went back to the basics, a strategy they stick with today.

"We're getting ready for a game and we're not running any plays. We're doing skills," he said.

"We're working our offense against our defence, just one-on-one passing and receiving," he said.

"We do these drills with every position, so our team is very well rounded. I think last year we may have just caught people off guard, because our skills were so sound."

There are 18 returning players to the Storm's roster, however only two - Kara Fillmore, 25, and Lisa Harlow, 24 - are true six-year vets.

Quarterback Lisa Harlow said the team has picked up some excellent rookies and in combination with the Storm's foundation training the team is set for another title-run.

"We've got all the tools we need to put (a winning season) together," Lisa Harlow said.

"And we have the right girls this year to defend our title."

The Moncton Vipers were the only team who came close to beating Saint John last year, tying the Storm 8-8 late in the season.

Coach Harlow expects the Vipers to be throwing bombs in the season opener today.

"Moncton has always had a good aerial attack, but we've worked really hard on defending in the air," he said.

Coach Harlow said his team focuses on charging their opponent's line rather than raining down TD passes.

"I believe in old-school football," he said.

"We'll punch you in the nose until you bleed and then we'll try to make you run with that bloody nose."

In other MWFL action, the Capital Area Gladiators are in Halifax today to take on the Xplosion in their season kickoff match.

Steve Drisdelle expects the Capital Area Curves Lady Gladiators to be "right in the hunt" for the Maritime Women's Football League title.

After winning two years in a row, the rebuilding Gladiators bowed out in the semifinal round last summer to the eventual champion Saint John Storm.

The Storm beat the Moncton Vipers 24-14 in the final while the Gladiators rebounded to beat Halifax Xplosion 22-16 to finish third.

Drisdelle, who had been the Gladiators' defensive coach, was hastily promoted to head coach just before the regular season started.

"It was a year of change," Drisdelle said. "We lost a lot of players for various reasons, including pregnancies and careers. But we've turned it around this year. We're very confident with what's going on.

"We have a lot of enthusiasm."

Capital Area opens the regular season tomorrow by playing the Xplosion in Bedford, N.S.

After that game, the Gladiators will enjoy a three-game homestand. They'll host the Vipers on June 14, the Storm on June 20 and the Xplosion on June 27 - all 5 p.m. kickoffs at Leo Hayes High School front field.

"That homestand will definitely help us out and get us ready for a push towards the playoffs and field position," Drisdelle said.

The Gladiators travel to Moncton and Saint John on July 4 and 11, respectively, to complete the regular season.

The semifinals are scheduled July 18.

The third-place game for the Friendship Bowl and the championship for the Maritime SupHer Bowl VI Judy Upward Trophy will both be played July 25 at Millidgeville field.

The Gladiators began practising indoors in February and have had a dozen outdoor practices since May.

"We're sitting at about 25, 26 players," Drisdelle said. "We're always looking for a few more, but I'm very comfortable with that number."

The Gladiators have 14 experienced players, including linebacker/kicker Tiffany Ketchum, who's in the military and played in the past for Moncton.

"We have a good core of veterans along with a fresh and very talented and athletic group of rookies coming in," Drisdelle said.

Quarterback Alex Black is the team captain "and the best player in the league hands down," Drisdelle said.

Robyn Neill, at centre, "is probably the heart and soul of the offensive line," he said, while linebacker Julia Coleman "is another key veteran."

Tight end/slotback Kristen Warner and defensive end Megan Foley "are impressive rookies," Drisdelle said.

The Gladiators got off to a 1-4 start last season. Scoring points proved to be a problem.

"We're trying to spread the field out a bit more," Drisdelle said, "and try to take advantage of what other teams traditionally do on defence."

The Gladiators were a charter member of the Maritime league, which is now entering its sixth season.

"I'm really humbled and I feel honoured to be part of this," Drisdelle said. "This is my fourth season with the team and it's amazing to see the growth in women's football.

"Last fall we started a team for 14 to 17 (year-olds), which is going to be a great feeder system for us," he said. "The stability of the league really seems to be set now and rooted."

Drisdelle plans to remain involved indefinitely.

"I'm loving every minute of it," he said. "I coach in the fall with boys (FHS Junior Black Kats) and this is just as rewarding and sometimes a little more fun."