After a close loss at home in week six, the Vixen headed down to Florida against the Tampa Bay Inferno for a first-ever matchup between the franchise in week seven, and came back victorious. On Saturday, June 6, Minnesota crushed the Inferno 55-21, with quarterback Erin Kelley leading the way with seven total touchdowns. With the win, the team’s fourth 50+ point game, ends the Women’s Football Alliance 2026 regular season with a record of 5-1. The lone loss was a three-point loss to the St. Louis Slam, the reigning national champions.
Erin Kelley once again showed why she is one the best quarterbacks in the WFA with another fiery performance against the Inferno, scoring five passing touchdowns and two more rushing touchdowns thanks to well timed goal-line QB sneaks. In total, Kelley tallied 264 passing yards and 14 on the ground. Wide receiver Solveig Lundberg led Minnesota’s receiving room with 111 yards on five receptions and two touchdown catches. Receiver Amanda Dvorak and tight end Edy Halverson both catch a touchdown pass as well.
The Vixen’s ground game leaned on new faces against Tampa Bay after running back Paige Kuplic was sidelined due to an injury sustained against St. Louis the week before. Wide receiver Jackie Radford was the Vixen’s leading rusher and totaled nearly 200 yards from scrimmage. In the running game, Radford had 89 yards and a rushing touchdown and another 94 yards receiving and a receiving touchdown catch. Nearly all of her yards on the ground came from a 68-yard touchdown run. Tight end Mackenzie Reed was also heavily featured in the running game, with ten carries for 35 yards. In total, the Vixen’s running game combined for 164 yards and three touchdowns.
“I don’t think anyone even touched me, which makes it really easy for me,” Radford said after the game. “It’s easy for me to do my job because all my teammates are blocking it up.”
In a season-long trend, the defense was dominant in the win, forcing Tampa Bay to be one-dimensional on offense and limiting the majority of their yardage to the second half. The Inferno had a total of negative six passing yards against the Vixen, with 164 yards rushing. Most of their yards on the ground came in the fourth quarter after they had moved starting quarterback Octavia Loll to running back, which gave the Inferno some life late in the game.
On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Sophie Culhane led the team with seven total tackles, including two tackles for loss. Culhane was followed by free safety Britt Peterson, who continued to be a nightmare for opposing defenses, with five solo tackles. The defense also nabbed two turnovers; one interception by defensive back Ashley Waalen, her second of the season, and a fumble recovery by Paige Condie.
“I think it really helped us see some of our deficits, some things that we can work on going into the playoffs,” defensive end Ang Bennett said.
While the Inferno are celebrating 15 seasons since their founding, this was the first-ever match up between the two storied franchises. In addition to the on-field play, Minnesota had to contend with the Florida heat and humidity in the matchup.
“They’re a great team,” defensive end Anna Kimball said after the game. “They have a lot of quality players to give some real competition, we’re happy to be here.”
Minnesota will now host the first round of the WFA Pro playoffs at Klas Field on Saturday, June 27 at 7 p.m. against the St. Louis Slam. Tickets are now on sale, click here for more information. The team is pushing to break the all-time attendance for the franchise and needs fans in the stands at Hamline University on June 27. For the Vixen, they’re ready to play.
“I feel really confident heading into the playoffs with who we got, and I’m excited to see who we’re gonna play,” Radford said after the game.
Fresh off the bye in week five, the undefeated Minnesota Vixen are set to defend Hamline University’s Klas Field for the final regular-season home game of the year against the 2-1 St. Louis Slam. Minnesota and St. Louis met in week one to open the 2026 Women’s Football Alliance season, and the Vixen dominated the back-to-back national champions in a 24-7 win. Since then, the Vixen have rattled off three more wins, including another impressive win against Dallas.
Photo credit: Alanna Hinz-Sweeney
In week four, the Vixen handled the Dallas Elite Mustangs in a 58-0 win at home to improve to 4-0 on the season. The win was the team’s first shut out victory of the year, but the defense’s second after they kept the Slam’s offense off of the scoreboard in week one. The defense again put massive pressure on the quarterback, with five sacks in the game, in addition to an interception by defensive back Isabelle Tatum.
Offensive line Swiss Army knife C’iana Ford lauded the defense that’s able to keep opposing teams out of the endzone after the win over Dallas.
“Our defense is top of the line, like no other defense,” Ford said. “Our defense is amazing. They give us so many different looks at practice. They can take anything that’s coming, they’re ready,”
The offense showed why it is so difficult to slow down with another balanced attack. In total, the Vixen’s offense tallied 198 passing yards and more than 200 yards on the ground, with running back Paige Kuplic breaking the century mark again, with two touchdowns to boot. Quarterback Erin Kelley continued to be among the best passers in the WFA with three touchdown passes on nine completions on 12 attempts for 161 yards. Wide receiver Jackie Radford led the Vixen in receiving yards with 73, 63 of which came on a long touchdown pass from Kelley.
Photo Credit: Alanna Hinz-Sweeney
Two players scored their first touchdowns of the season against Dallas. Running back/defensive back Kandace Bostick and running back/offensive weapon Rae Jefferson scored on the ground, with Jefferson saying that a talented offensive line makes touchdowns like hers not only possible, but easy.
“This game would be so difficult without the line that we have, and any success we have this year is because of our o line, especially on the offensive side, they allow us so much opportunity to create and to just read what they can do,” Jefferson said. “It’s incredible, it’s life changing.”
Photo Credit: Alanna Hinz-Sweeney
In the weeks since the first matchup between Minnesota and St. Louis, the two rivals have had one common opponent, the Houston Energy. In week four, the Slam beat Houston 21-6 at home in Missouri. The previous week, the Vixen crushed the Energy 56-6 on the road in Texas.
In the final regular-season home game of the year, Vixen players and coaches know a rematch against a division rivalry will be a tall task but have had this game circled on the calendar since the offseason.
“We’re ready to go,” defender Paige Condie said following the win over Dallas. “Beat them the first time, come back to our home field, beat them again.”
To help defend the den against the Slam, the Vixen need Klas Field to be packed and loud so secure your seats to the last home game of the regular season now. For more information about tickets, click here. Kickoff will be at 6 p.m. CT on Saturday, May 30. The game will be live streamed on the Vixen’s YouTube channel.
The Vixen will be on the road in week seven against the Tampa Bay Inferno to end the regular season on June 6. Following the end of the regular season, there will be a bye week prior to the start of the playoffs.
Following wins over the reigning back-to-back national champions and the Mile High Blaze, the Minnesota Vixen went on the road in week three to Texas to take on the Houston Energy. The Vixen enforced their will on Houston, winning 56-6 and improving their perfect record to 3-0. Now in week four of the WFA regular season, the Vixen return to St. Paul to take on the Dallas Elite Mustangs.
Against Houston, the Vixen’s kinetic offensive attack was once again balanced between the passing and running games. Running back Paige Kuplic was thunderous against the Energy, and led Minnesota in total rushing yards. After just missing the century mark against Mile High, Kuplic tallied 137 yards on just six carries – three of which she took into the endzone. Combined, Vixen backs combined for 221 yards on 19 carries. In total, the Vixen offense had 330 total yards on just 31 plays and had only one drive end in a punt. “It feels good,” center and captain Taylor Fox said after the game. “We had a really big focus this week on coming in and cleaning things up, especially on the offensive side of the ball, and we did a really good job doing that tonight, and obviously took care of business and put up some points.”
Through the air, quarterback Erin Kelley had another four-touchdown game. In week three, she tallied three passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown and she followed it up with another outstanding performance in week four. On Saturday night, Kelley threw for four touchdowns, 119 yards and was eight of 11 passing. Wide receiver Amanda Dvorak caught three passes, scoring twice, and WR Jackie Radford continued to rack up receiving touchdowns with another against the Energy. Radford now has a receiving touchdown in each of the Vixen’s three wins. Rookie tight end Mackenzie Reed was at peak efficiency, her sole reception was a 13-yard touchdown, her first ever career TD.
Following the win, Dvorak echoed that it feels great to be 3-0 and that the team showed it was a first-half team with their hot start from the first whistle. She added that she’s built a solid receiver-quarterback connection with Kelley, which was on full display in Texas.
“I love it,” Dvoark said. “I think we’ve been playing [for] either three or four years now and you can tell now more than ever our chemistry and how we’re connecting out there. I mean, she’s got a great arm so it’s fun to run around and catch her [passes].”
On the other side of the ball, the Vixen defense was once again suffocating, limiting Houston to 144 total yards of offense, including a measly three yards on the ground on 19 attempts. Safety Britt Peterson was yet again a nightmare for opposing offenses, leading Minnesota in tackles with five, and also tallied a sack and a tackle for loss. In total, the Vixen defense had three sacks, six tackles for loss and two interceptions and kept the Energy to four for ten on third down conversions.
Special teams were special in Texas, with defensive back Kaity Hove taking the opening kick off of the game to the house, the Vixen’s first special teams touchdown of the season. Hove also made her presence known on defense with an interception in the second half of the game. International kicker Michaela Ďurišková was perfect on extra points, going eight for eight.
The Minnesota Vixen are now set to defend Klas Field at Hamline University against the Dallas Elite Mustangs on Saturday, May 19 at 6 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available, click here for more information. Dallas muscled out a 12-7 win in week three, improving to 2-0 in the WFA Division II and setting up a clash of unbeatens in St. Paul. With an incredible crowd propelling the Vixen in their home opener, the team needs Klas Field to be loud and rowdy to help show the entire Women’s Football Alliance why they should #FearTheFox.
After a statement win over the reigning national champions to open the season, the Minnesota Vixen defended their new home turf for the first time against the Mile High Blaze. On Saturday, May 2, 2026, the Vixen took on the Blaze at Hamline University’s Klas Field and won in dominant fashion, 62-20. Now, the Vixen are set to hit the road again in week three with a matchup with a Women’s Football Alliance divisional foe, the Houston Energy.
The Vixen’s defense was once again relentless in week two against the Blaze, limiting their offense to six first downs and 106 total yards on 49 plays. The Blaze quarterbacks were kept to three completions on 18 attempts for 97 yards, 82 of which came from single play late in the game. The ground game for Mile High was blanketed by Minnesota, collecting a net total of nine yards on 30 rushing attempts.
Vixen defensive back Britt Peterson was a menace for the Blaze throughout the game, racking up five total tackles, a sack, forced fumble, four tackles for loss and a pass breakup. She also returned two punts for 42 total yards. In total, the Vixen defense had two interceptions, including a pick six, two sacks, 14 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries and 11 pass breakups. The Vixen’s second interception was returned for a touchdown by rookie defensive back Ashley Waalen, who said they’re now ready for the next challenge on the schedule.
“We create chaos together, we communicate together,” she said. “It felt good, I got the jitters out so I feel ready and locked in for the next game.”
For veteran Cynthia ‘Red’ Bryant, who has been a part of the Vixen team since its inception in 1999, said the defense is starting to show who they are with back-to-back impressive performances.
“It’s putting the defense on the map, showing what we got,” Bryant said after the game. “This team is playing for each other on offense, defense, special teams, we are here for each other, that’s what we do. That’s what it’s about.”
On the other side of the ball, the offense was electric, racking up over 400 total yards. Captain QB Erin Kelley led the way for the Vixen, with 16 completions on 31 attempts for 230 passing yards and four touchdowns, with an additional rushing touchdown to cap off her performance. Wide receiver Amanda Dvorak led the Vixen’s receivers room with four catches for 83 yards, followed by WR Jackie Radford, who had five receptions for 70 yards and two touchdowns. Radford also pitched in the rushing attack with three carries for 38 yards and a touchdown. In the rushing attack, running back Paige Kuplic nearly broke the century mark with 97 yards on 13 carries. RB Tiff Wright tallied two touchdowns, ten carries and 39 total yards. Both the passing and running games were aided by a stout offensive line who enforced their will in the trenches, allowing zero sacks and only two tackles for loss in the game. The offensive line featured a mixture of returning veterans and rookies, including Natatlie Kalimu who had her first career start Saturday.
“It was definitely awesome, something I already told the coaches at the beginning of the season that I wanted to come out and start sometime during the year and I definitely got the chance to show them what I got,” the rookie said.
“It’s my family, it’s become my family, we’re getting so close to each other and definitely knowing each other a little bit more,” Kalimu said of her offensive line unit, adding that the veterans have helped her acclimate to the play of the WFA.
In week three, the 2-0 Vixen head down to Texas to take on the 1-0 Houston Energy at 6 p.m. CT on Saturday, May 9. The game will be live streamed Only On Clutch. Minnesota’s next home game will be at 6 p.m. CT on May 16 at Hamline University’s Klas Field against the Dallas Elite Mustangs. Tickets are still available, click here for more information.
On Saturday, April 25 2026, the Minnesota Vixen traveled to St. Louis, MO to take on the Slam, the reigning back-to-back WFA Pro National Champions to open the 2026 season. The Slam’s undefeated regular-season record stretched back three seasons entering Saturday. With the final whistle of the game, that streak was snapped by the Vixen with a 24-7 win.
The Vixen were tenacious on both sides of the ball in the 17-point win, with a suffocating defense that allowed 119 yards and zero points for the Slam’s offense. The Vixen’s offense controlled the clock with the effective use of the air and ground attacks, which culminated in 339 yards of total offense.
On the ground for the Vixen, running backs Paige Kuplic and Tiff Wright both scored touchdowns in the win. Kuplic finished the game with 93 yards on 22 carries and another 20 yards receiving, with Wright tallying 61 yards on 17 carries and 12 yards through the air.
In the passing game, quarterback Erin Kelley ended the game with one touchdown, 189 yards and two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. Wide receiver Jackie Radford led the Vixen receiving corps with 71 yards on six catches, and the game’s first touchdown. Tight end Sam Anderson was close behind with 68 yards on four receptions.
For the team, this Vixen win was the product of a long offseason focused on beating the best team in the league. Players like six-year veteran Kelley had been waiting for this moment for years.
“Honestly, can’t even put it into words at this point,” Kelley said after the game. “I mean, we have never beat them in their home field… and we broke their streak, two-year, haven’t lost streak.”
“How does it feel to beat St.Louis? Amazing, amazing,” linebacker Alycia Noble said. “We’ve been working all preseason for this. We knew St. Louis was the team to beat. We came out here and showed everyone what we can do.”
While the team savored the victory over their rivals, they also know St. Louis isn’t done with them. The Vixen and Slam are slated to play once again in the 2026 regular season on May 30, however, it will be in Minnesota’s friendly confines.
In week two of the WFA Pro season, the Vixen return to Minnesota for their home opener against the Mile High Blaze at Hamline University’s Klas Field in St. Paul, MN. Be a part of history for the Vixen’s first-ever game at Klas Field and help the team become 2-0 on the season, tickets to the Vixen’s home opener are on sale now, click here for more information. Season ticket packages are still available.
The Minnesota Vixen are excited to announce that all home games for the upcoming 2026 Women’s Football Alliance Pro season will be played at Hamline University’s Klas Field in Saint Paul, MN. The multi-million dollar stadium will host all three of the Vixen’s home games, starting with a matchup against the Mile High Blaze on May 2 at 6 p.m. CT.
“We’re thrilled to bring Minnesota Vixen football to Hamline University,” team owner and general manager Laura Brown said. “This partnership creates a great home for our players and an exciting game day atmosphere for fans.”With a capacity of roughly 2,000, Klas Field will be among the biggest and brightest stages that teams in the WFA Pro will see until the championship game at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, OH. The move also marks a new chapter in the growth of women’s tackle football, according to Brown.
“Moments like this show how much women’s football is growing and why these athletes deserve to be seen and supported,” she said.
Both veteran captain quarterback Erin Kelley and Special Teams Coach Tina Mielke agree that the move is a symbol of growth not only for the team, but the league and sport.“It’s huge for our sport,” Kelley said. “You don’t often get to play on college fields. Giving us that experience, it also shows that people are noticing. It’s growing our sport as a whole and [I’m] very thankful for Hamline for giving us the opportunity.”
“I love it,” Mielke said. “It really, I think, is going to elevate our team and our sport. The fact that we’re at a college venue, that’s a nice, well-known venue, I think it really elevates the sport.”
The Vixen will also host Dallas on May 16, and St. Louis on May 30, both games kickoff from Klas Field at 6 p.m. CT. Fans can prepare for three theme nights this season, with the home opener being flag football night, where we celebrate the Vixen’s flag football team. May 16 will be Weird Ink Night, sponsored by The Weird Ink Society, and May 30 will be Pride Night, which will include the team’s Pride uniforms.
The Minnesota Vixen are proud to announce that ten players have been named to the WFA First Team All-Americans for the 2025 season—one of the most prestigious honors in women’s tackle football.
Each year, the Women’s Football Alliance selects 1–10 athletes from every team to represent the top performers in the league. Once again, the Vixen continue to lead with excellence, placing a remarkable ten athletes on the list.
These standout players exemplify athleticism, leadership, and dedication both on and off the field:
#10 Erin Kelley – Quarterback
#81 Jackie Radford – Wide Receiver
#8 Amanda Dvorak – Wide Receiver
#83 Shi Rhodes – Running Back
#29 Paige Kuplic – Running Back
#98 Sami Krause – Offensive Line
#69 Marissa Akinseye – Offensive Line
#6 Jocelyn Tanner – Linebacker
#4 Kandace Bostick – Cornerback
#26 Caitlin Hill – Cornerback
“These players represent all of us—the grind, the growth, and the grit that every single Vixen brought to the field this season,” said Laura Brown, Owner and General Manager. “It’s a true team effort, and this recognition reflects the strength of our entire organization.”
The Vixen’s presence on the All-American roster highlights not only the team’s on-field success, but its growing impact in the national conversation around women’s sports. From developing elite athletes to advocating for equity in football, the Minnesota Vixen continue to set the standard for excellence and opportunity.
The 2025 WFA All-American Game will take place on Saturday, July 28 at the NFL Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, where these athletes will represent both Minnesota and the next generation of women’s football.
The Minnesota Vixen, the longest continuously operating women’s tackle football team in the country, is making a bold move in 2025: launching a competitive women’s and non-binary flag football team. This initiative marks a strategic expansion for the Vixen brand, designed to increase access to football, support year-round engagement, and empower more athletes through the game.
The new program will be open to athletes 18 years and older, with tryouts already underway this spring and summer. The team will compete locally in the Minneapolis 6v6 Women’s Flag League this fall and is targeting appearances at regional and national tournaments throughout the year — including the WFA National Championship Tournament at the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio this July.
“We’ve seen an explosion of interest in flag football, especially among women and non-binary athletes looking for new ways to compete and connect,” said Vixen owner and general manager Laura Brown. “By adding a flag team, we’re expanding the Minnesota Vixen ecosystem — offering more opportunities for athletes to play at a high level while growing our presence in new markets.”
Unlike tackle football, flag football offers a non-contact format that emphasizes speed, strategy, and skill development. The Vixen Flag team will follow NIRSA rules and use a 7v7 format with pop-style two-flag belts, opening the door to athletes of all backgrounds — from former college players to recreational league standouts.
Beyond the field, the new program represents a smart business move for the Vixen organization. By expanding into flag football, the Vixen can:
Reach new fans and player demographics
Increase sponsorship opportunities with year-round visibility
Deepen community partnerships through league play and outreach
Develop a talent pipeline that supports both flag and tackle programs
The launch also aligns with a growing national push to include women’s flag football at the collegiate and Olympic levels, further positioning the Vixen as leaders in the future of the sport.
“Our goal is not just to field a great team, but to build a sustainable, scalable program that advances women and non-binary athletes at every level of the game,” Brown said. “Flag football is fun, fast, and competitive — and it’s the next step in our mission to grow football for all.”
Athletes interested in joining the Vixen Flag program can learn more and register for upcoming tryouts at mnvixen.com/flag-football.
The Minnesota Vixen hosted the DC Divas in week 4 of the WFA regular season. The Vixen are coming off a hard-fought 34-27 loss against the St. Louis Slam May 10. Minnesota (1-1) will take on DC (2-0) in what many are calling the matchup of the week in the WFA. Looking to get back in the win column, the Vixen will watch out as the Divas look to continue their hot start to the season.
The defense went up against a high-powered DC offense, which scored 71 points in week 1 and 38 points in week 2. After a big kick return for the Divas to start out the game, Vixen defense responded with a big 3 and out, followed by a turnover on downs on 4th down.
1st Quarter
The Vixen offense came out swinging on the first drive.Quarterback Erin Kelley and Wide Receiver Amanda Dvorak connected for a 33-yard gain on the first play from scrimmage while beating excellent coverage. After a missed third down, Kicker Michaela Ďurišková and the Vixen special teams cashed in on a field goal to take a 3-0 lead.
Conditions at Kuhlman Field played a factor – with a chill in the air, the temperature at kickoff was 52 degrees, combined with a wind gust of 11 mph, not ideal for football in May. However, the weather was an advantage early on for the Vixen. The DC Divas had 3 dropped passes, 2 of which came on 4th down.
The Vixen capitalized on the Diva drops. After a 4th down drop for the Divas offense, the Vixen offense took over at the DC 37-yard line. On the first play of the drive, running back Shi Rhodes burst out to the left sideline and capped off a stellar 37-yard run with a touchdown to take a 10-0 Vixen lead.
Kicker Michaela Ďurišková was unaffected by the weather as well, with her first kick setting a Vixen record at 30 yards. After a stalled out Vixen drive on offense, Ďurišková matched her own record with another 30-yard field goal to take a 13-0 lead.
On what was so far a dominant opening quarter for the Vixen, DC finally responded quickly. What looked like a broken kickoff return for the Divas, DC kick returner Siena Britt picked the ball up from the 1-yard line and turned it into an impressive 99-yard kickoff return to cut the lead to 13-7.
MN Vixen #17 Michaela Ďurišková setting a new Vixen FG record.
2nd Quarter
The Divas offense had a chance to take the lead on their next offensive drive, DC Quarterback Amanda Congialdi was picked off by defensive back #6 Jocelyn Tanner as she ripped the ball out of the hands of the DC receiver for her second interception of the season.
The rest of the second quarter was a mix of frustrating offense and strict defense from both teams. Linebacker Emily Sampson forced a fumble in the red zone, recovered by defensive back Chloe Anderson, to prevent a Divas touchdown with a minute left in the second quarter. The Divas’ defense responded by forcing a safety on the Vixen offense to cut the deficit to 13-9 to close out the first half.
3rd Quarter
After an exchange of 3-and-outs by both teams to start the second half, the Vixens’ second offensive possession of the half was dominated on the ground, with contributions from the Vixens’ offensive line and running backs Shi Rhodes and Paige Kuplic. The drive was capped off by an RPO pass from quarterback Erin Kelley to wide receiver Jackie Radford for Radford’s 5th touchdown reception of the season. The following PAT was missed due to a bad snap, as the Vixen extended their lead to 10, at 19-9.
4th Quarter
The first drive of the 4th quarter for DC was finally met with success in the air. The Divas were able to complete passes down the field against the Vixen defense; however, the Minnesota red zone defense forced DC to a 4th and goal. The Diva offense turned down the field goal attempt and converted a touchdown to get the first points allowed by the Vixen defense. 19-16 Vixen.
The Vixen offense returned the favor from their defense on the following drive. Minnesota methodically moved down the field through a healthy balance of yards gained through the air and on the ground. Running back Shi Rhodes ran in her second touchdown of the game, making a nice cutback to the right and bursting up the middle for the score – 26-16.
The name of the game is to bend, not break. DC’s ensuing drive looked like it was about to be another scoring drive, pushing their way back into the red zone. The Vixen denied another score by DC by getting their third takeaway of the game. Defensive back Hannah Eckhardt intercepted Congialdi in the end zone, which set up the offense to take over with less than 4 minutes remaining. The offense drained out the remaining time on the clock, but that wasn’t enough to stop Rhodes’ big day. She got another hole and took it to the house for a 55-yard touchdown gallop. Rhodes returned for more on the next and final drive and caught a touchdown pass from Kelley, finishing her huge day with 4 total touchdowns.
Coach’s Unsung Hero Performance
Running back Johanna Vermöhlen is used to taking the lead in the backfield for the Vixen. Today, she was met with a different assignment. Coach Connor Jo Lewis used Vermöhlen in the tight end position, a position that Vermöhlen is not used to playing. Her contributions setting up blocks, along with the offensive line, helped facilitate a masterful performance on the ground.
The Divas were not able to conduct a comeback as time ran out, as the Vixen gained their second win of the season in commanding fashion. The Vixen totaled 314 rushing yards, with 158 yards from Rhodes and 105 yards from Kuplic. The Vixen will have the next week off for Memorial Day weekend, but they will return to Kuhlman Field May 31st for a rematch with arch-rival St. Louis.
MN Vixen #21 Johanna Vermöhlen breaking through the DC Diva’s line.
The Minnesota Vixen were all gas and no brakes in their season opener, topping the Nebraska Pride 41-0 at Kuhlman Field. “We have full units offense and defense, and we just keep raising the bar of aggression,” said Coach Connor Jo Lewis. That aggression was on full display for all 60 minutes of play on Saturday.
The offense wasted no time finding a rhythm on Saturday. Quarterback Erin Kelley (#10) led the offense methodically down the field, capping off a 9-play, 67-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Wide Receiver Jackie Radford (#81). The Vixen missed the point after to go up 6-0, but that would just be the beginning.
Defensively, the Vixen set the tone right out of the gate, just as planned, according to Defensive Coordinator Eric Meng. “I’m really proud of the players we have, and the abilities they have to attack really hard and be very aggressive. That’s kind of our key this year,” said Coach Meng.
The turnovers were plentiful for the Vixen defense, totaling 5 takeaways during the game. #54 Kaylee Damasin got the takeaway party started with a blocked punt on the first defensive series, setting up another scoring drive by the offense, capped off by a strong 6-yard rushing touchdown by Angela Griffin (#80) to take a 13-0 lead.
This was a game that was decided by the trenches. The Vixen outrushed the Pride by 265 yards. “To play football, you need all 11 players. That is part of the run game, and to have the run game working, it takes a lot of pressure off of me (and the receivers),” said Quarterback Erin Kelley. Running Back Johanna Vermohlen (#21) led the Vixen in rushing with 21 rushes for 96 yards and a touchdown. Running Back Paige Kuplic (#29) had 9 rushes for 85 yards and a touchdown, including a huge 46-yard rush down the left sideline to help set up another Vixen touchdown.
With 1:41 left in the second quarter and the ball near midfield, Kelley and the offense orchestrated a masterclass 2-minute drill. The Vixen quickly moved down the field using no-huddle effectively, with a big 4th down conversion by Vermohlen, and a clutch 3rd down pass to Radford to set up 1st and goal. The drive was perfectly capped off by a play-action rollout pass from Erin Kelley to Tight End Sam Anderson (#86) for a 5-yard touchdown pass.
Minnesota completely controlled the tempo in the first half, dominating time of possession and the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. With aggressive defense and methodical execution on offense, the Vixen looked every bit like a team on a mission.
And boy, were they on a mission. The Vixen were every bit as menacing the second half, starting the half with a botched Nebraska snap recovered by Anna Kimball (#99) at Nebraska’s 16-yard line. The entire second half also consisted of an intense 5-4 turnover battle and a strong defensive showing.
Caitlin Hill (#26) came up with a big interception with 9:08 left on the clock. It was a big stop for the Vixen’s defensive line, whose momentum never seemed to slow down once. In fact, the momentum continued to get stronger as the Vixen’s defense came up big the next drive, with an interception made by Jocelyn Tanner (#6).
Tanner’s interception was well worth it, as she was able to run the ball all the way to Nebraska’s 15-yard line, resulting in a touchdown by Johanna Vermöhlen and a successful extra point attempt to increase the Vixen’s lead, 27-0.
The Vixen’s 5th offensive possession started with a dart to Jackie Radford on an RPO, resulting in a 19-yard touchdown run by Paige Kuplic and another successful PAT, extending the lead 34-0.
There was 2:17 left in the fourth quarter, but the Vixen weren’t done yet. Kaylee Damasin came up with a big sack, but a muffed punt by Nebraska during a punt return resulted in a turnover for the Pride at the Vixen’s 34-yard line.
That didn’t stop the Vixen, though – as Chloe Anderson (#7) came up with an interception not long after Nebraska had the ball again. #83 Shi Rhodes sealed the deal for the Vixen with a huge touchdown run to extend the lead to 41 to 0 – it was the cherry on top of an already action-packed, exhilarating start to the season.
Having a dominant performance to kick off the start of the season, especially in front of a home crowd, was special for Coach Lewis. “We had a few players who were back from injury,” Lewis said. “Just to see them [and] the hard work we’ve seen them go through over the last year in [the] mental and physical, you see it pay off.”
For Meng, who played an instrumental role in the Vixen’s strong defensive showing, the feeling is also mutual. “I’m really proud of the players that we have, the abilities that they have to attack really, really hard and be aggressive… that’s kind of our key this year is to be aggressive.”
It’s one thing to have your first game of the season occur in front of the home fans, but it was another to also have your birthday on the same day, as was the case for Dvorak. “There’s nothing better, the weather was beautiful, [and] playing football with these guys. I couldn’t have asked for a better birthday.”
And it’s far from over for the Vixen, who are coming off the bye week with a matchup against the reigning WFA Champions St. Louis Slam this weekend. A historically tough matchup between the two foes – and a highly anticipated one – the Vixen have to continue their momentum across both sides of the ball in order to be successful. “We have to win every play, we have to win every series, we have to win every quarter, and we have to win every half so we can win again. That’s our goal from the very beginning,” Meng said. The Vixen will be taking this winning mentality on the road in hopes to improve to 2-0.
