Reported by Stephanie Froese
This weekend was a big one for football in Saskatoon.
Amid the hype of an announcement of a new stadium in Regina, the Saskatoon women’s tackle football team dominated the Western Women's Canadian Football League Championship for a second year in a row.
The Saskatoon Valkyries successfully defended their WWCFL title with a 64-21 win over the Lethbridge Steel at Griffiths Stadium Saturday evening keeping the team undefeated in its two seasons of operation.
Beth Thomson, left tackle, said that the final game was certainly momentous.
“We had a huge crowd and it was under the lights, the atmosphere was really great. We started off really strong with our offense scoring right away and then they answered right back and we knew that we had ourselves a game at the very beginning,” said Thomson.
This is Thomson’s second year with the team. She said she noticed the Valkyries getting more attention this year.
“This year I find especially, a lot of people know about us. Where as last year we were still al little bit unknown and so we really appreciate the support from the community in that way,” she said.
For such a new team, Kendra Wilson, right tackle, said she noticed a lot more then family and friends in the stands at the game Saturday.
“I asked who they were there supporting, whether they knew a player or not, and they just said that they thought it would be fun to come out and see a game of football and it’s just nice to see we have some great supporters even though they don’t know someone on the team,” said Wilson.
She said she can only hope the momentum will keep going and the team will be able to add to the roster of 36 women going into the championship.
There was a buzz about a couple of names, or just one, after Saturdays game as the team's two Julies (Julie Paetsch and Julie David) took six of the team's eight touchdowns.
Julie David also recovered the first kickoff.
“To start off with a big play like that then the whole team gets motivated,” said David. She was quick to add that the game and whole season was a full team effort.
“We worked so hard all year to get to that point and I think every single girl in the field had their best game and it came out as a big win for us,” said David.
Wilson had a similar sentiment when asked what the secret is to the team’s consistent winning.
She said it was a combination of the sisterhood bond the team has formed and some excellent coaches and staff.
The Valkyries head coach, Jeff Yausie, has lead the team now through the two undefeated seasons.
Follow on Twitter: @StephanieFroese
