Game Day: Crushers @ Sharks

Brooklyn, New York, April 24, 2010

This was no time to have a let down. The Connecticut Crushers (0-3) had yet to get a win and the New York Sharks (3-0) were coming off an exciting and emotional win over the D.C. Divas. With division rivals Boston Militia and Pittsburgh Passion battling each other, this was a time that the Sharks could get a firmer hold in the playoff race.

Like the game against D.C., the Sharks came out throwing. On the Sharks first drive, quarterback Karen Mulligan tried to throw the ball one every play. Twice the Sharks were helped by Crusher penalties and one other time, she was sacked. But for the other times she connected with Lauren Pringle for 23 yards and then to Adrienne Smith in the endzone for 16 more yards. Mulligan then hit Chante Bonds for the 2-point conversion and New York was ahead 8-0 with 11 minutes left in the quarter.

Connecticut started the game trying to get their running attack going. Running back Amanda Zabel carried the bulk of the load and she was able to make some very nice runs. On the Crushers second drive of the game, Zabel had a nifty 21 yard gain that brough the ball deep into New York territory at the 33-yard line. They kept giving her the ball but she was finally stopped just short a first down of the 23-yard line on the fourth down play.

With the Sharks' defense getting the ball back to the offense, they were re-paid with a short rest. Mulligan threw a short pass to Bonds who caught the ball at the 32-yard line. She then broke a tackle and streaked down the field for a touchdown. Mulligan then handed the ball off to Bonds on the 2-point conversion and she easily ran it into the endzone. This made the score New York 16- Connecticut 0.

The Sharks were having more success in stopping Zabel and that forced the Crushers to open things up by going to the air. For the most part quarterback Kristin Fillian was under pressure in the first half and completed only a few passes. Meanwhile for the Sharks, Mulligan was throwing on almost every down but was not connecting. The game soon turned into a trading of punts back and forth to each other.

Late in the second quarter Fillian hit receiver Denise Denis twice for gains of 14 and 10 yards. Connecticut made it to the Sharks' 35-yard line before the New York defense came up big again. This time Hannah Williams intercepted an errant pass and ran the ball back 73 for a touchdown. She had to break 2 tackles before she hit paydirt but she made it all the way to make the score 22-0. With the regular placekicker Megan Antonucci out for today's game, linesman Celeste Robinson put on her kicking shoes. Unfortunately the snap bounced away from Smith and she had to loft the ball into the endzone. The pass was tipped away from Melodie Abrook and fell to the ground making the score 28-0.

Things continued to get worse for Connecticut despite there being only 5 minutes left in the half. After another stop by the Sharks defense, Kathy Holloman entered the New York backfield for the first time in the game. Mulligan from the shot gun position on New York's own 29-yard line tossed the ball to Holloman 1 yard behind the line of scrimmage, from there she used her speed and motored down the left side line for a 71-yard touchdown. And it didn't stop there.

Right after the kick-off, Fillian got a strong rush by Lakisha Grant. The Crusher quarterback tried to throw the ball away but Cheri Eleazer was at the Sharks' 45-yard line and intercepted the pass. She then ran it back all the way into the endzone. Robinson's extra point attempt was no good, but at the end of the first half, the Sharks had a very comfortable 34-0 lead.

The second half of the game was more or less the same on offense by New York. The Sharks scored 4 more times with 2 of the scores on plays of over 50 yards each. Bonds caught a pass down the middle of the field and used her speed to stay away from any tacklers. Holloman had the other long touchdown with a handoff that went up the middle. She hit a second gear and ran the ball in for a 53 yard touchdown run. Later in the game she had another run of 63 yards into the endzone. This was almost identical but a penalty by the Sharks brought the play back. The penalty was for a block in the back that wouldn't have made a difference on the play but it called back the score. The other 2 scores were on passes of only 35 and 8 yards.

With all of this quick scoring, time did not run off the clock at a quick pace. This gave Connecticut 7 times the opportunity to put together a drive and twice they did. Both were helped by New York mistakes. One was a breakdown on Sharks' special teams play on a kick-off. Denis returned the ball to the New York 35-yard line. She then caught a high lob pass from Fillian. Toni Salvatore tried to knock the ball down but Denis outjumped her for the ball and she was able to run down to the Sharks 6- yard line. From there Zabel bulldozed her way to the 1-yard line. Fillian called her own number on the next play for the Crusher's first score of the game.

Connecticut scored one more time late in the fourth quarter. This time it was helped by a horse collar penalty that moved the ball down to the Sharks' 41-yard line. With the Sharks in a prevent defense, the Crushers took advantage with passes to Jennifer Davis and Denis for 15 and 14 yards apiece. Connecticut then went to some razzle dazzle and picked up another 12 yards on a reverse to Davis. Zabel then punched the ball in from the 1-yard line for the touchdown.

The game finally ended with the Crushers threatening again with the ball on the Sharks 27-yard line, but Williams got her second interception of the day. The final score, Sharks 65-Crushers 14.

The New York Sharks kept their record umblemished but so did the Boston Militia as they both battle it out for supremacy of the North Atlantic Division. The Sharks will cross the Hudson River next week to take on the undefeated New Jersey Justice. Kick-off time is 7:00pm (EDT). If you cannot make it to the game, listen to Pat Brown and Dave Maxwell describe all of the action on WFNradio.

Connecticut Crushers 0-0-6-8: 14
New York Sharks 16-18-18-7: 65

Scoring Summary

First Quarter
NY - (11:01) Smith 16 yard pass from Mulligan (Bonds pass from Mulligan)
NY - (06:45) Bonds 76 yard pass from Mulligan (Bonds run)

Second Quarter
NY - (05:29) Williams 77 yard interception return (Pass failed)
NY - (02:22) Holloman 71 yard pass from Mulligan (Kick failed)
NY - (02:04) Eleazer 45 yard interception return (Kick failed)

Third Quarter
NY - (13:38) Bonds 58 yard pass from Mulligan (Kick failed)
NY - (09:14) Holloman 53 yard run (Kick failed)
CT - (05:52) Fillian 1 yard run (Run failed)
NY - (02:21) Smith 27 yard pass from Mulligan (Kick failed)

Fourth Quarter
NY - (13:52) Blum 30 yard pass from Mulligan (Robinson Kick)
CT - (08:37) Zabel 1 yard run (Zabel run)
NY - (03:04) Pringle 8 yard pass from Smith (Kick failed)