Game Day: Sharks at Firebirds

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, April 10, 2010
The New York Sharks (1-0) opened up their 2010 season on the road to take on the Philadelphia Firebirds (0-2). The Sharks had a bye while the Firebirds played Baltimore last week to kick-off the IWFL season. This was an important game for New York, not only because it was against a division rival, but it was also the first game for new head coach Fabian Alessandro. But while it was a new coach, many veteran players returned to the team after missing last season. Lakisha Grant, Virginia Leon, Faith Mitchell, Kathy Holloman, Leeann Brzozowski, and Gabrielle Nazaire all returned for the 2010 campaign.

It was a nice Spring evening when the two teams took to the field. The Firebirds won the coin toss and elected to receive the ball. The Sharks defense looked in fine mid-season form as Philadelphia lost 5 yards during their possession and were quickly forced to punt.

At first on offense, New York was a little bit shaky as they were quickly hit with a holding and then an offsides penalty. But Holloman wearing her famous red shoes was able to rush for 2 first downs. After another holding penalty the Sharks were moved backwards and needed 20 yards to get a first down. On the next play, Quarterback Karen Mulligan dropped back and threw the football intended for receiver Jennifer Blum down the right sideline. The Philadelphia defender panicked and tackled Blum before the ball got there and the Sharks were given a 27 yard gift.

With the ball on the Firebirds' 17-yard line, Mulligan handed the ball off to running back Mandy Oppel. After 4 touches, Oppel got into the endzone to give the Sharks the early lead. New York went for the two-point conversion and Mulligan found Chante Bonds open in the back of the endzone to make the score 8-0 with 8:26 left to go in the first quarter.

On their next possession, Philadelphia could not advance the ball and quickly were forced to punt. This was a theme that continued throughout the game as the New York defense stopped everything that the Firebirds could throw and run at them. New York held the home team to negative total yards but also to no first downs throughout the whole game. On offense, the Sharks could do no wrong as they did not punt the entire game.

On the Firebirds punt, Bonds returned the ball 27 yards to give the Sharks a first down on their own 44-yard line. Mulligan again went to the air and connected with Lauren Pringle in stride for a big 41 yard gain to the Philadelphia 15-yard line. The ball was then put into the hands of Holloman who was able to punch it into the endzone on 2 running plays. The Sharks were successful on the 2-point conversion as Mulligan found Blum all alone in the endzone. This made the score 16-0 with 4:44 left in the first quarter.

The New York defense continued to keep the pressure on the Firebirds as Sharks Jessica Vazquez and Mitchell sacked Firebirds' quarterback Pam Downey on third down and forced the home team to punt again. It took less than a minute for the Sharks to strike again as Bonds returned the punt 50 yards for New York's third touchdown of the quarter. It was a spectacular return as she caught the football off her shoetops running full speed. She then ran down the right sideline and at the 15-yard line jumped up into the air to avoid a tackle before finishing up in the endzone. The Sharks missed the conversion, but the score was now 22-0 and the rout was on.

The second quarter went pretty much the same as the first. The Sharks defense would not let anything or anyone past the line of scrimmage and on offense, running backs Holloman and Oppel just pounded the ball up the middle for two more scores. The last touchdown of the quarter though was a nifty pass play by Mulligan. She threw a short 12 yard pass down the middle to receiver Adrienne Smith. The pass was just behind the line Phiadelphia linebackers and from there Smith only had to beat one Firebird to the endzone for a 34 yard touchdown play. At this point, the Sharks felt comfortable to test out their kicking game and brand new kicker Kriste McTamaney trotted out onto the field. Her first attempt split the uprights and the score at the end of the first half was now 45-0.

In the second half, the Sharks mostly ran the ball. On one drive, Nazaire was given the ball eight times straight and she went off-tackle eight times straight. Even though it was basically the same play over and over, the Firebirds could not stop the little runner and she scored her first touchdown of the season.

By the fourth quarter, Isabella Bluhm was the running back and she kept pounding the ball up the middle until she scored from the 1-yard line. McTamaney kicked the extra point and that was the end of the Sharks scoring for the game.

Offensively Philadelphia could not get anything going and the day ended for them by fumbling the football away at their own 32-yard line. Shana Segers recovered the ball and the Sharks ended the game by taking a knee.

It was a satisfying win for the Sharks as it gave their head coach a victory under his belt and they dominated in every aspect of the game. But Philadelphia is a young team that is rebuilding with a new coach so this is not really the best test for New York. Their first big test of the season will come this weekend as they take on the Eastern Conference champion D.C. Divas for the Sharks home opener. The Divas were undfeated during the regualar season last year and they are continuing that streak this year. This game will show how good the Sharks really are, so come on out to Aviator Sports Complex in Brooklyn to watch what should be one of the best games of the season. If you cannot make it, listen to Pat Brown and Dave Maxwell describe all of the action on WFNradio. Also helping them out in the booth will be NFL's Sam Rapoport. Kick-off time is 7:30pm (EDT).

New York Sharks 22-23-12-7: 64
Philadelphia Firebirds 0-0-0-0: 0

Scoring Summary

First Quarter
NY - (08:26) Oppel 1 yard run (Bonds pass from Mulligan)
NY - (04:44) Holloman 2 yard run (Blum pass from Mulligan)
NY - (01:31) Bonds 50 yard punt return (pass failed)

Second Quarter
NY - (13:50) Holloman 5 yard run (Pringle pass from Mulligan)
NY - (10:51) Mulligan 2 yard run (Blum pass from Mulligan)
NY - (02:40) Smith 34 yard pass from Mulligan (McTamaney kick)

Third Quarter
NY - (09:23) Nazaire 1 yard run (kick failed)
NY - (04:05) Mulligan 3 yard run (kick failed)

Fourth Quarter
NY - (09:09) Bluhm 1 yard run (McTamaney kick)