April 28, 2023 ·
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Game Previews, News
After a tough loss to the St. Louis Slam in their season opener, the Minnesota Vixen are eager to get back on the field and prove themselves against the Nebraska Pride this Saturday. Despite the scoreline, the Vixen showed flashes of brilliance in their first game, with standout performances from Sarah Rosche and Chelsy Swanson on offense and defense, respectively.
Although the Vixen struggled to find the end zone in their last game, they were able to move the ball effectively, racking up over 100 total yards and five first downs. With another week of practice under their belts, the Vixen offense will look to capitalize on their opportunities and put points on the board.
Defensively, the Vixen was strong against the Slam, allowing just 20 points and forcing two turnovers led by Swanson, Samantha Barber, and Allie Dockendorf. The Vixen defense will aim to stifle the Pride's offense and create more turnovers tomorrow.
While the Vixen may have a tough task ahead of them against a talented Pride team, they have the talent and drive to come out on top. With the support of their fans behind them, the Vixen will look to earn their first win of the season and build momentum for the rest of the year.
April 28, 2022 ·
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Game Previews, News
Two weeks into the 2022 Women’s Football Alliance season, the Minnesota Vixen have used their trademark stifling defense and steamroller offense to outscore their opponents 96-6 and set themselves up well going into a bye week.
The St. Louis Slam were Minnesota’s most recent victims last Saturday night at Edina’s Kuhlman Stadium despite a fast start for the Slam that featured a Keyonna Smith interception on Minnesota’s opening drive, followed three plays later by an 81-yard pitch and catch down the left sideline from Jamie Gaal to Danielle Price.
But after that initial St. Louis spark, Minnesota played lights out the rest of the night, blocking the ensuing PAT kick and holding the Slam scoreless the rest of the way to a 41-6 victory in front of a good crowd on a cold April night. It was the first time Minnesota had beaten St. Louis in franchise history.
Grace Cooper roared back into action after missing most of week 1, churning out 26 carries for 220 yards and four, yes four, touchdowns. Rookie receiver Jackie Radford hauled in six catches for 49 yards and got her griddy on with her first career touchdown, a 4-yard strike from Erin Kelley. Kelley would finish 8 of 18 for 58 yards.
St. Louis did threaten to score again near the end of the game with a 12-play drive that got all the way to the Minnesota 6, but the Vixen secondary dug deep to repeatedly deny the Slam’s red zone passes. Along with the near shutout, the Vixen defense held the Slam to 124 total yards and continued their streak of QB poaching with JoDee Williams’ 34-yard interception return of rookie Jaimi Salone’s tipped ball.
Speaking of rookies, the entire Vixen class of 2022 is all over the stat sheet so far for this year’s WFA campaign. On defense, cornerbacks Allie Dockendorf, Courtney Cullen and AJ Cooper have helped shut down multiple pass attempts, and safety Megan Dixon is displaying extreme ball hawk tendencies including a 56-yard pick six against the Iowa Phoenix in week one. Finland’s Jonna Touvinen, although not new to women’s tackle football, is looking right at home in her Vixen gear running the alley and returning punts. Jaimi Salone, a former thrower for Stanford University, has been terrorizing opponents with 7 combined tackles, three for a loss, and a pass deflection.
Quarterback Erin Kelley and Jackie Radford connected Saturday night for what looks to be the first of many touchdowns, and Radford, Olivia Keske, Sam Winter, and Grace McClure-Johnson have been putting on a clinic in downfield run blocking.
And the trenches would not be complete without Brooklynn Byrd, Nicole Hankton, Jess Pett and Kat Conway, who all are also making solid plays on special teams.
The Vixen are off this week, but will not rest easy as they head to Reno on April 30 for a new challenge in the Nevada Storm, whose hard charging running game put up more than 300 yards in a season-opening 28-7 victory over the Mile High Blaze. The Storm are playing their first year in WFA Pro after winning back to back championships in D2 and D3 as well as doubling their roster size from 2021.
For more Vixen highlights and news, visit our Facebook page and our broadcast partner Town Square Television.
April 28, 2022 ·
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Game Previews, News
In their first contest of the 2022 WFA season, the Minnesota Vixen needed just one offensive play to get on the board.
After receiving the opening kickoff, Minnesota rookie quarterback Erin Kelley lofted a beautiful play-action strike to All-American Sam Barber down the left sideline for a 51-yard score. The Vixen would eventually notch a 55-0 victory over the Iowa Phoenix at Edina’s Kuhlman Field.
After a three and out by Iowa, the Vixen started off the next drive with a 26-yard run by 2021 WFA Offensive Player of the Year, Grace Cooper. Unfortunately, Cooper was injured on the play and would not return, but the duo of Jesse Haas and and Tasheanna Washington-Ware handled the run game for the rest of the night with a combined 158 yards and all but one of the Vixen’s remaining scores on offense.
Running backs coach Matt O’Keefe was very proud of his charges, saying they stepped up brilliantly and proved that no matter who is in the backfield for the Vixen, defenses should be very concerned.
Iowa, a scrappy and much improved team that hopes to contend for a WFA Division 3 title this year, made several trips deep into Minnesota territory but miscues kept them scoreless, including a goal line fumble that Minnesota was able to turn into a 7-play, 99-yard touchdown drive.
Barber had an excellent night on both sides of the ball, adding two sacks and another touchdown to the Vixen cause. Linebacker Ace Theissen, back in the Vixen den after a year off, celebrated their return with five tackles, two pass breakups and two interceptions, one for a 51-yard pick 6.
The defense as a whole had a great outing, with rookie Megan Dixon adding another pick 6 from 56 yards out and 27 different players notching at least one tackle.
But as the saying goes the devil is in the details, and Minnesota will have a devil of a time if they don’t take care of details this coming Saturday in the WFA Game of the Week against the St. Louis Slam, who knocked the Vixen out of the WFA Division 2 playoffs in 2019.
According to offensive coordinator Shaun Mattson, this week is about playing a cleaner game, and eliminating turnovers and penalties. We did a lot of nice things against Iowa, he said, but this week is about taking the next step because when we execute our jobs, we are incredibly difficult to stop.
And on the other side of the ball, defensive line coach Bruce Brevitz said his group will be emphasizing ball awareness and being careful not to over penetrate and take themselves out of the play.
The Slam, who are back in action after a 30-month hiatus and fresh off a 14-6 victory over the Columbus Chaos, will be looking to continue their quest for a fifth championship, and their first as a WFA Pro team.
Although the past matchups with St. Louis certainly mean many Minnesota players have had Saturday’s date circled in red since this year’s schedule was released, Vixen Head Coach Ryan McCauley says his message for the week is that this year’s teams are different animals and this is just another game against a talented, well-coached team.
McCauley, also the team's defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach, says the Slam have a solid scheme that demands opponents bring sound fundamentals and aggressive pursuit. St. Louis also stresses defenses by lining up on the ball and calling a play from the sideline, and is unafraid to throw in gadget or trick plays at any time. It will be a challenge, but one that both players and coaches are ready to face.
Tickets to Saturday night’s game are on sale now at mnvixen.com, and the game will be carried by Town Square TV and nationally televised on For the Fans Network. Check our Facebook page for links and details!
May 28, 2021 ·
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Game Previews, News
Game 3 for the Vixen. Check out this week's game preview.
After a tough loss to the St. Louis Slam in their season opener, the Minnesota Vixen are eager to get back on the field and prove themselves against the Nebraska Pride this Saturday. Despite the scoreline, the Vixen showed flashes of brilliance in their first game, with standout performances from Sarah Rosche and Chelsy Swanson on offense and defense, respectively.
Although the Vixen struggled to find the end zone in their last game, they were able to move the ball effectively, racking up over 100 total yards and five first downs. With another week of practice under their belts, the Vixen offense will look to capitalize on their opportunities and put points on the board.
Defensively, the Vixen was strong against the Slam, allowing just 20 points and forcing two turnovers led by Swanson, Samantha Barber, and Allie Dockendorf. The Vixen defense will aim to stifle the Pride's offense and create more turnovers tomorrow.
While the Vixen may have a tough task ahead of them against a talented Pride team, they have the talent and drive to come out on top. With the support of their fans behind them, the Vixen will look to earn their first win of the season and build momentum for the rest of the year.