Saskatchewan claims gold at inaugural women’s tackle football championship
Photo credit: Terry Ritz
Host Saskatchewan claimed gold with a 34-22 win against Quebec on Sunday July 31 at the inaugural Women’s National Championship held at Regina’s Mosaic Stadium. In Sunday’s other contest, Alberta captured bronze following a 30-12 victory over New Brunswick.
Quebec opened the four-game senior women’s tackle football tournament on Thursday June 30 with a 54-31 win over Alberta while Saskatchewan defeated New Brunswick 58-0 to close out day one. With opening day victories by rivals Quebec and Saskatchewan, Sunday’s gold medal game marked the fourth time this year that the two provinces competed for gold as it was a rematch of the 2016 Football Canada Cup final as well as both the men’s and women’s Senior Flag Football Invitational finals.
Just as in 2012, the senior women’s event served as the start of the identification process for Canada’s Women’s National Team, scheduled to compete at the 2017 International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Women’s World Championship (WWC).
Leading up to the gold and bronze medal games, on Saturday players took part in a series of drills as part of the identification process for the Women’s National Team.
“Saturday’s session was a great opportunity for the Women’s National Team coaching staff to continue identifying and get a chance to speak to players about competing for Canada in 2017,” said returning national team head coach, Jeff Yausie, who serves the same role with the Saskatoon Valkyries.
The national event builds off the 2012 Women’s Challenge Cup held in Montreal. The Challenge Cup hosted provincial teams from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec and Atlantic Canada in a weekend celebration of women’s football which included integrated practices, mini-games as well as development opportunities for mentor coaches.
“It’s exciting to see women’s tackle football continue to grow and develop. The talent and quality of play was impressive and the national championship was a great way to not only celebrate this growth but also continue to foster it,” said Yausie.
Scoring summary – Gold medal game
| QTR | TIME | TEAM | SCORE | PLAYER (NAME & #) | TYPE OF PLAY | HOME | VISITOR |
| 1 | 8:48 | SK | 6 | 33 Samantha Matheson | Rushing touchdown | 0 | 6 |
| 1 | 8:48 | SK | 1 | 5 Carly Dyck | Extra point | 0 | 7 |
| 1 | 8:47 | SK | 1 | 5 Carly Dyck | ROUGE | 0 | 8 |
| 1 | 0:55 | SK | 6 | 33 Samantha Matheson | Rushing touchdown | 0 | 14 |
| 1 | 0:55 | SK | 1 | 5 Carly Dyck | Extra point | 0 | 15 |
| 2 | 10:39 | SK | 6 | 5 Carly Dyck | Receiving touchdown | 0 | 21 |
| 2 | 10:39 | SK | 1 | 5 Carly Dyck | Extra point | 0 | 22 |
| 2 | 3:20 | SK | 2 | Team | SAFETY | 0 | 24 |
| 2 | 0:25 | QC | 2 | Team | SAFETY | 2 | 24 |
| 3 | 9:24 | QC | 6 | 86 Annabelle Chevrier | Receiving touchdown | 8 | 24 |
| 3 | 5:25 | QC | 6 | 9 Rose-Amelie Brunet | Receiving touchdown | 14 | 24 |
| 3 | 2:36 | QC | 1 | 13 Maude Lacasse | ROUGE | 15 | 24 |
| 4 | 9:59 | SK | 6 | 1 Carmen Agar | Rushing touchdown | 15 | 30 |
| 4 | 9:59 | SK | 1 | 5 Carly Dyck | Extra point | 15 | 31 |
| 4 | 7:45 | SK | 3 | 5 Carly Dyck | Field goal | 15 | 34 |
| 4 | 4:54 | QC | 6 | 31 Virginie Roussel | Receiving touchdown | 21 | 34 |
| 4 | 4:54 | QC | 1 | 13 Maude Lacasse | Extra point | 22 | 34 |
Scoring summary – Bronze medal game
| QTR | TIME | TEAM | SCORE | PLAYER (NAME & #) | TYPE OF PLAY | HOME | VISITOR |
| 1 | 7:27 | NB | 6 | 13 Olivia DeMerchant | Rushing touchdown | 6 | 0 |
| 1 | 6:56 | AB | 6 | 21 Erin Walton | Receiving touchdown | 6 | 6 |
| 1 | 6:56 | AB | 1 | 10 Kassidy Atwater | Extra point | 6 | 7 |
| 2 | 8:54 | AB | 6 | 10 Kassidy Atwater | Rushing touchdown | 6 | 13 |
| 2 | 8:54 | AB | 1 | 10 Kassidy Atwater | Extra point | 6 | 14 |
| 2 | 1:34 | AB | 6 | 10 Kassidy Atwater | Rushing touchdown | 6 | 20 |
| 2 | 1:34 | AB | 1 | 10 Kassidy Atwater | Extra point | 6 | 21 |
| 2 | 0:33 | AB | 6 | 80 Aria McGowan | Rushing touchdown | 6 | 27 |
| 4 | 6:56 | AB | 3 | 10 Kassidy Atwater | Field goal | 6 | 30 |
| 4 | 0:19 | NB | 6 | 13 Olivia DeMerchant | Rushing touchdown | 12 | 30 |
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