CANADA WINS SILVER AT THE IFAF WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

07/03/2010

SATURDAY, JULY 3, 2010 – STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN – Team Canada has won Silver at the inaugural IFAF Women’s World Championships.The United States won Gold  with a 66-0 victory at the Zinkensdamms IP Stadium in Stockholm, Sweden on Saturday, July 03.

Earlier in the day, Finland won the Bronze medal with a 26-18 win over Germany, while on a good day for Scandinavia, host Sweden took fifth place overall by beating Austria 20-18.

Team USA head coach John Konecki said afterwards, “Canada was an excellent team and we had to work our butt off to prepare and play against them. I feel honored to have coached this Team USA. It is a remarkable group of women.

Defensive Most Valuable Player Sharon Vasquez of the Pittsburg Passion added:

“It was amazing to win gold medal. It was very emotional. We played an awesome team and it feels great to be in this moment,” said Vasquez.

USA now holds all IFAF tackle football world titles with the USA Football Women’s National Team joining their male counterparts, who won the senior crown in 2007 against Japan, and the juniors (aged 19 and under), who beat Canada to lift the 2009 IFAF Junior World Championship.

A strong defensive start for Team USA forced Canada to punt on their first drive and the offensive powerhouses took over immediately.

In USA’s opening drive, Jessica Springer lined up in the wildcat and plowed her way threw Canadian defense for a first down to Canada’s 20-yard line. Giving the ball right back to Springer, she ran straight into the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown and with Emily William’s extra point USA went up 7-0 with 9:45 left in the first quarter.

The defensive pressure continued on Canada’s next drive as Jeanamarie Fisher of Portland Shockwave sacked Canada’s quarterback Saadia Ashraf for a loss of four yards quickly making it third and long. More pressure from USA forced Ashraf to throw the ball away as Canada punted.

The United States quickly attacked again with a 34-yard gain by Desiree Weimann followed by a 26-yard touchdown by Mia Brickhouse and the United States went up 15-0 with a successful two point conversion by Springer with 7:18 left in first quarter.

Canada’s Julie Paetsch started to have success late in the first quarter picking up a three big runs of 10, 19, and 11-yard gains but then the USA tighten up the defense and did not allow Canada to pass the 24-yard line. On fourth and seven, Canada opted to go for it but Amy Satterfield stopped the run as the United States took over on their own 19-yard line.

Not letting up, USA attacked again with a screen play for Desiree Weimann followed by an 18-yard run by Mia Brickhouse who found some room down the middle with some great blocking by Game MVP Jamie Menzyk.

Springer showed her power again with a 27-yard and then with a hand off to Desiree Weimann who went untouched down the middle for a 25-yard touchdown as the United States increased their lead to 22-0 with 1:36 remaining in the first quarter.

With another quick three and out due to defensive pressure led by defensive lineman Olivia Griswold, the United States would find the endzone again as quarterback Jenny Schmidt connected with Offensive Most Valuable Player Rusty Sowers to the three-yard line for first and goal. Springer would then plow her way into the endzone for her second touchdown of the game. With a direct snap to Springer for two the United States built a 30-0 lead.

A 27-yard punt return from Sowers was followed by a 17-yard gain by Onetha Cannon. And on first and goal, Mia Brickhouse found a gap running into the endzone for a seven-yard touchdown going up 37-0.

Canada moved the ball into US territory as quarterback Saadia Ashraf connected with Alia Palmer 11-yard gain.  On third and seven, Ashraf forced to scramble out of the pocket for an incomplete pass. Going for it on fourth, Tracy Adams and Olivia Griswold immediately put pressure on the quarterback who again had to throw the ball away with US taking over on their own 39-yd line with 4:47 left in the half.

On the first play of the drive, Springer took the ball running through the Canadian defense for a 59-yd touchdown and with an extra point gave the United States a 43-0 lead.

With 53 seconds remaining in the half, the United States would get the ball back. Quarterback Schmidt took the ball herself weaving in and out for a 20-yard gain and with time running out Sami Grisafe connected with Rusty Sowers for a 31-yd touchdown to end the first half with a commanding 51-0.

The second half started similar to the first, as Sowers returned a punt for 20 yard giving USA good field position starting on the 50-yd line.  The drive saw multiple runs – a 7yd gain by Danilynn Welniak, 14 yd gain by Onetha Cannon, and ended with a 16-yar touchdown run by Julie Shockley with 9:56 left in the third quarter.

Canada’s Alex Black returned the kickoff into US territory to the 34-yard line, but could not capitalize with the USA defensive pressure forcing another Canada punt.

Canada picks up their defense, with a tackle for a loss and on third down stopping Danilynn Welniak drive one yard short of first down forcing the US to punt for the first time in the game.

After a false start, and a tackle for a loss by Jeanamarie Fisher, followed by a sack – Canada took an intentional safety who was backed up to their own 5 yard line as USA went ahead 60-0.

Games can be watched on a live webcast accessible through www.2010WWC.info.

11am    Fifth Place game Sweden 20 Austria 18

3pm      Bronze Medal game        Finland 26 Germany 18

7pm      Gold Medal game           Canada  0 USA  66

More information to follow. Additional headlines and information regarding the IFAF Women’s World Championships can be found at www.footballcanada.com and www.2010wwc.info. Gamesheet is available for download below (see download news file link).