Eastern Women’s Teams Take the Field in NYC

On April 30th, the Boston Demons traveled to NYC to battle the New York Magpies for the annual ANZAC Plate match.  However, this year’s ANZAC Plate had a pleasant addition from years past, a women’s game.  Kicking off their inaugural year, the Boston Lady Demons brought 4 women to the Big Apple to play against the New York Lady Magpies.  While originally, the Lady Demons hoped to combine with the Baltimore Lady Eagles, the teams did not have enough women to field a side.  New York, Boston, and Baltimore pooled their players, and NY Lady Magpies Coach Lina Staropoli divided the women up into 2 teams:  one wearing the Magpies black and white and the other wearing the Generals yellow and green.  The women played 3 ten-minute periods before the men came onto Tibbetts field to compete for the ANZAC Plate.

With plenty of USA Freedom Team members on the field for the Generals, they seemed to dominate the ground all day.  Eagle Eileen Geoghegan rucked to Magpie Andrea Casillas and Eagle Judith Stein to clear most of the footy out of the center for the Generals.  Magpie Siobhan McHale ran from end to end of the oval in her first game back this season, making it difficult for the Black and White to get a piece of the footy. 

The scoreboard was one-sided, but the Generals didn’t have it easy.  Magpie Monica Robbins proved to be a defensive force against the Generals for the majority of the game.  Newcomer Demon Nikki Blaha had multiple opportunities in the forward half to score for the Black and White, but failed to capitalize due to the Generals’ defensive pressure.  However, the Demons may have found their new ruckman in Blaha, who moved to the center in the 3rd period to challenge Geoghegan for the footy.

Although the ladies weren’t able to field full teams for the match, the game was hard fought throughout and provided a great opportunity for new players to learn the game.  The women’s teams hope to grow the sport on the East Coast and continue to recruit players.  A special shout out to the newbies who put their boots on for their first game of footy:  Boston Lady Demons Jen Buff, Nikki Blaha, Kristina Calvillo & Andi Williams and New York Lady Magpie Aminah Sulayman.  Great job ladies!The Lady Demons, Eagles, and Magpies will meet once again in Baltimore on May 21st for another shot at an Women’s EAFL match.

Generals (Green & Yellow)
9.9.63

Magpies  (Black & White)
0.0.0

 The game can be watched in its entirety!