Pasquerilla East vs. Welsh Family
By KIT LOUGHRAN
Sports Writer
Pasquerilla East and Welsh Family face off Sunday with each team looking to find a win.
The Whirlwinds (2-1) are hoping their 20-12 win over Pangborn on Sunday carries over into their game against the Pyros (0-1-1).
"We're taking it one game at a time," Welsh Family senior captain and quarterback Victoria Moreno said.
According to Pasquerilla East senior captain and safety Anna Perino, the Pyros are trying to embrace a similar approach.
"We are just trying to play our game and keep working on getting the chemistry going," Perino said. "We played a great game against Lewis last Sunday, so we're just going to keep doing our own thing."
Both teams look to maintain their strong defensive units while improving their offenses.
"Our defense has been carrying our team," Moreno said. "We look to keep scoring in this next game."
With its victory over the Phoxes, the Whirlwind defense successfully held the Pangborn offense and opened the path for the Welsh Family offense to score. Senior receiver Kirsten Groody and junior receiver Stephanie Lobaccaro will help execute plays and get the team in synch, Moreno said.
The Pyros, on the other hand, are looking to come out of the gates quickly, Perino said.
"If we come out strong, I think we'll be pretty hard to get past," Perino said.
Sophomore receiver Alex Good will be a crucial asset to the Pyros executing their offensive strategy, Perino said.
"She's come down with some pretty amazing catches," Perino said. "It's great to have her as a returning receiver."
The Pyros and Whirlwinds meet at 4 p.m. at LaBar Fields on Sunday.
Contact Kit Loughran at kloughr1@nd.edu
Pangborn vs. Ryan
By CASEY KARNES
Sports Writer
Pangborn and Ryan will try to recover from their first losses of the season when they face off Sunday.
Ryan (2-1) is unconcerned about its recent loss, said senior captain and quarterback May Pillai. She said her team hopes it is a minor setback at the start of a strong season.
"It's great to have a winning record at this point," Pillai said. "We're really experienced, so when we play together as a team, we play very well."
Pillai has led a potent Wildcats offense bolstered by junior receiver Maddie Swan and senior receiver Kelly O'Brien.
Pangborn (2-1) hopes to counter the Wildcats with a strong, inspired defense.
"We have a lot of spirit, and ... we're really motivated," senior captain and center Colleen Bailey said. "Both our offense and defense have been really strong."
The Phoxes face a difficult situation this weekend, as sophomore starting quarterback Caitlin Gargan will be out of town. Gargan has started the first three games, but sophomore Liz Quinn will take over under center this week.
"Liz is still very strong," Bailey said. "She has experience. Our game plan will change a bit with her as the quarterback."
Regardless, senior captain and receiver Meredith Angell will be sure to be a large part of that plan, Bailey said.
The Wildcats believe they can win if they focus on the little things, Pillai said.
"Our biggest weakness has been our inconsistency," Pillai said. "Pangborn is really athletic, so we need to limit our mistakes, and go out and execute our game plan."
Pangborn and Ryan face off at 5 p.m. on Sunday at LaBar Fields.
Contact Casey Karnes at wkarnes@nd.edu
Badin vs. Breen Phillips
By ALEX STEMBAUGH
Sports Writer
Badin and Breen-Phillips look to come out strong in their battle Sunday.
Badin (1-2) looks to secure another win after a strong offensive showing in its last game against Howard.
"We're just starting to click," senior captain Tommasina Domel said. "It's not just a matter of coming together as a team, but actually performing well and clicking."
Offensively, the Bullfrogs are looking to throw in a couple of new plays, while the goal on defense is to execute, Domel said.
"Our defense is really strong and has played together as a team for a while," Domel said. "They have things down."
Domel said her fifth-year senior quarterback Carli Fernandez to bring trouble to the Breen-Phillips defense.
Breen-Phillips (0-1) has a youthful squad and is looking to continue its improvement this week, junior captain Molly Toner said.
"We have a lot of freshmen, so now everybody has better understanding of what games are like, and we will definitely have big improvements from our first game last week," Toner said. "Our focus this week is on making the run game work and organizing our plays a little bit better."
Toner said her team has a strong freshman class on defense that will come ready to play.
Badin and Breen-Phillips square off at 6 p.m. on Sunday at LaBar Fields.
Contact Alex Stembaugh at astembau@nd.edu
Cavanaugh vs. Pasquerilla West
By ALEX STEMBAUGH
Sports Writer
Cavanaugh takes on Pasquerilla West in a much-anticipated showdown between a pair of undefeated teams.
Cavanaugh (3-0) boasts a stingy defense that has yet to allow a single point this season.
"We're going to come in with confidence from our season so far," senior captain Tegan Chapman said.
The Chaos want to limit mistakes, especially on defense, Chapman said. She also credited senior quarterback Rosemary Kelly with pulling together an offense that is starting to come into its own.
"We're just really excited to play and get out there again," Chapman said.
Squaring off to face the Chaos is a strong Pasquerilla West (2-0) that is looking forward to take the field after its previous game was rescheduled due to weather.
"We're looking to work out some new plays on offense, and to adjust well on defense," senior captain Meghan Schmitt said.
Schmitt said to look out for senior receiver Kirsten Danna and sophomore quarterback Lauren Vidal on offense, while she said she expects the entire defense to come out as a real threat.
"Our main goal is to score a lot of points," Schmitt said. "The past few games we've won, but not necessarily by a lot. We want to change that."
The Chaos and Purple Weasels will kick off at 5 p.m. Sunday at LaBar Fields.
Contact Alex Stembaugh at astembau@nd.edu
Lewis vs. Farley
By MEG HANDELMAN
Sports Writer
If the enthusiasm of the captains of Lewis and Farley is any indication, Sunday's heated matchup between the Chicks and the Finest should be one to remember.
Finest senior captain Courtney Currier is looking to lead Farley (0-2) to victory by focusing on improving its defense to turn around the season.
"I'm hoping our solid defense can support the offense by stopping Lewis at all costs and getting the ball back to the Finest," Currier said.
Currier said junior quarterback Lauren Ladowski has been working hard in practice all week to help her teammates develop individually and as a team.
"They're ready to pull flags and make sacks all day," Currier said.
Despite their record, Currier said she is confident in the Finest.
"Even though we are 0-2, we need to keep our heads up and work out the kinks during the time we have to practice," Currier said. "We don't have time to panic."
The Chicks (0-2-1) are equally eager to get a win on the board in Sunday's matchup.
Senior captain Connaught Blood said she is confident Lewis will shine against the Finest.
"We've been making a lot of strides with each game and I think our defense can handle anything," Blood said. "Our offense will be ready to break out in a big way."
Blood will play quarterback this weekend and is looking to junior Colleen Haller to help her put some points on the board. Additionally, seniors Katie Carney and Mara Catlaw will lead the defense to hold the Finest back as much as possible. Blood said she is confident in her team's ability the rest of the season.
"We plan on winning the rest of our games and I'm hoping that we will still be in position to make the playoffs," Blood said. "If we do that, I think our talent, experience, mental toughness and excitement will carry us to the championship."
The Chicks and the Finest battle for their first victory of the season Sunday at 4 p.m. at LaBar Fields.
Contact Meg Handelman at mhandelm@nd.edu
Howard vs. Walsh
By DONG-HYUN KIM
Sports Writer
Howard and Walsh, a pair of teams with 1-2 records, look to reach .500 with a win Sunday.
The Ducks (1-2) played a solid game against Badin last week but fell short in a 26-18 loss. Junior quarterback Clare Robinson played the whole game with a broken finger, while scheduling conflicts caused the Ducks to begin the first half with only 10 players.
Robinson said the Ducks will be ready to play Sunday with a recovered quarterback and a full roster, making them a more potent team than before.
"We normally have 30 players," Robinson said. "We had early difficulty and trailed by four touchdowns. But we played hard and caught up to them."
Key players to look out for include freshmen Maria Ianni, who made a key interception in last week's contest and ran for a touchdown, and Ashley Henry, who made several critical receptions.
Walsh (1-2) lost 18-12 against Pasquerilla West but the Wild Women fought hard until the final whistle, as sophomore receiver Kathleen Hough scored a pivotal touchdown against the Purple Weasels to keep the game close.
Senior quarterback Kat Leach has a strong arm and is quick on her feet, which will pose a dual threat to Howard's defensive line.
Even with the losing record, Walsh is optimistic about the upcoming games.
"We take it one game a time," senior captain and cornerback Lindy Navarre said. "It's about making progress. Walsh is tenacious, adaptable and full of swag."
Howard and Walsh are set to do battle Sunday at 6 p.m. at the LaBar Fields.
Contact Dong-Hyun Kim at dkim16@nd.edu
Pangborn vs. Pasquerilla East
By ALEX WILCOX
Sports Writer
Monday's contest between Pangborn and Pasquerilla East looks to be a proving ground for both teams. The Phoxes (2-1) hope to bounce back after a close loss, while the Pyros (0-1-1) attempt to get that elusive first win after a competitive tie against Lewis.
Pangborn got off to a quick 2-0 start in which they didn't allow a point. On Monday, though, the Phoxes not only let up their first points, but also suffered their first defeat, losing to Welsh Family 20-12. Pangborn senior captain Colleen Bailey said the loss has only refocused her team.
"Having one loss behind us just makes it more important to win every game," Bailey said. "We really have to focus now. We've got to put [the loss] behind us and improve."
The Phoxes will try to improve against a Pasquerilla East team that has drastically improved since being shut out 8-0 in its first game by McGlinn. The Pyros tied Lewis 7-7 in week two, but senior captain Anna Perino said the score doesn't tell the whole story.
"I thought we played great, our offense completed so many passes and our defense played really well," Perino said. "We looked really comfortable and played with so much intensity."
Instead, Perino blamed the tie on a familiar scapegoat.
"I feel we were robbed of a very clear win," Perino said. "The refs were very tough on us. We had several big plays called back, including a pick-six."
Although the tie doesn't put Pasquerilla East in the win column, the game did instill a newfound sense of confidence in the Pyros.
"I think we're going to be ready for [Pangborn]," Perino said. "I think Monday is going to go really well. I'm excited for a good challenge."
Confidence, though, is nothing foreign to Pangborn. Bailey said she plans on riding the current success all the way to the championship.
"For us, it's really just playing our game regardless of who is on the other side," Bailey said. "Let [the opponent] worry about strategy. We plan to dominate and shut them down as much as possible."
Pangborn and Pasquerilla East kick off Monday night at 10 p.m. at the LaBar Fields.
Contact Alex Wilcox at awilcox1@nd.edu
Welsh Family vs. Farley
By MARY GREEN
Sport Writer
With the season at its midpoint, Welsh Family aims for a strong second half that begins with Monday's game against Farley.
Coming off a big victory over a strong Pangborn team, the Whirlwinds (2-1) are finally starting to click as an entire unit, senior captain and quarterback Victoria Moreno said.
"[That game] was the first night our offense was 100 percent gelling, and we're looking for our defense to stay strong," Moreno said.
Despite losing a close 7-6 game against Ryan before rebounding against Pangborn, Welsh Family believes it has just started to peak, Moreno said.
The Welsh Family defense has held opponents to 12 points or less in all three of its games and relies on core players such as senior Kaitlyn Cole, whose interception last week closed out the team's win over the Phoxes.
On the other side of the ball, the Whirlwinds look to their potent offense to put points on the board.
"We just want to continue to do what we're doing, which is moving the ball down the field and scoring," Moreno said.
The Finest (0-2), on the other hand, have faced a tougher road to this week's game. Still winless after matchups against Pangborn and Ryan, they had a bye week to regroup and focus on the rest of their schedule.
"We need to get more coordinated and more in sync," Farley junior quarterback Lauren Ladowski said after her team's loss to the Phoxes.
The Finest will see if they have reached that goal when they kick off against the Whirlwinds at 10 p.m. Monday at the LaBar Fields.
Contact Mary Green at mgreen8@nd.edu
Lyons vs. Breen-Phillips
By ALEX WILCOX
Sports Writer
In Tuesday's game between Breen-Phillips and Lyons, both teams will be working towards the same goal: improvement.
Due to an early rainout, Breen-Phillips (0-1) has played just one game, a 20-6 loss to Walsh last week.
"We have a lot of freshmen, so [last week] was their first game and naturally there was a big learning curve," Babes junior captain Molly Toner said. "We didn't play a very clean game, but there's a lot to improve on."
Toner said she is hopeful her team will come together now that it has game experience.
"I expect us to eliminate our mistakes," Toner said. "We're playing together now, so hopefully better things are to come."
Lyons (1-2) has also slowly come together as a team. The Lyonites were outscored 41-0 in their first two games but posted a 6-0 shutout against Badin last week. Junior captain Christina Bramanti credited the team's improved defense to practice.
"Our last practice we had was all focused on defense," Bramanti said. "We're working on flag pulling, and we're able to anticipate and react much better."
In its victory Sunday, Lyons showed a sense of team unity and confidence, Bramanti said
"That game was crucial for us," Bramanti said. "It was the first time we showed how good we can be, both athletically and in coming together as a team."
With Lyons' first win secured, Bramanti believes her team is ready to take the next step.
"We're really excited about our first win. It really motivated us," Bramanti said. "It showed us that we can be better and it motivates us to continue doing what we're doing."
Toner displayed the same confidence for her Babes squad.
"We certainly have a lot to build off of for Tuesday," Toner said. "We're excited to play and are a lot more confident."
Breen-Phillips and Lyons kick off Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Riehle Fields.
Contact Alex Wilcox at awilcox1@nd.edu
Walsh vs. Badin
By RICH HIDY
Sports Writer
Walsh and Badin clash Tuesday night in a battle for bragging rights.
Badin (1-2) comes in off its first victory, a 33-18 win over Howard. Senior captain Tommasina Domel said she thinks the Bullfrogs are prepared for the challenges Walsh presents.
"We know how Walsh plays," Domel said. "We won't need to adjust much to them. We want to take home a win because we've finally worked out the kinks on our team."
Badin will look to its veteran leadership on the field. Fifth-year quarterback Carli Fernandez leads the offense in her fourth year on the Bullfrogs. The Bullfrogs feature a senior-laden defense and experience veterans on both sides of the ball.
Domel said the Bullfrogs are trying to improve day-by-day.
"Our defense has been really strong for a couple of years, so our focus has been trying to build an offense," Domel said. "We have a lot of new girls there so we need to improve, and we are still learning on offense."
Walsh (1-2) will look to rebound from a heart-breaking 18-12 defeat to Pasquerilla West last week.
"We showed a lot of heart against [Pasquerilla West]," senior captain Kat Leach said. "We want a repeat with a better finish."
The Wild Women will rely on Leach to spark their offense. Walsh features a pair of solid sophomore receivers in Kathleen Hough and Maddie Loper, along with senior receiver Erica Borst.
Walsh sophomore cornerback Molly Johnson leads the defense with multiple interceptions, and the defensive line has generated pressure on opposing signal callers.
Leach said she believes the game will be a tough matchup between two evenly matched teams.
"This will be a tight game, since Badin is always good," she said. "We are all excited to go out there."
Walsh and Badin play Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Riehle Fields at Stepan.
Contact Rich Hidy at rhidy@nd.edu
