Saskatoon gears up for clash with archrival
Regina Riot
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| Alex Eyolfson warms up for the Valkyries. |
The Saskatoon Valkyries appear to have quickly found some
offensive balance, and it has the potential to serve them well in what is
slated to be a lightning fast Western Women’s Canadian Football League season.
On Sunday, the Valkyries opened their regular season dumping
the Winnipeg Wolfpack 47-6 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Unlike their 56-6
exhibition victory over the Edmonton Storm on April 29 at SMF Field, the
Valkyries were able to get a little even production between passing and rushing
yardage against Winnipeg than they did against Edmonton.
During the exhibition win over the Storm, the Valkyries, who
are the defending WWCFL champions, piled up 308 yards on the ground and only 76
yards through the air. Sophomore starter Alex Eyolfson and rookie Cori Thorstad
combined to connect on 6-of-23 passes in that contest.
The bumps in the passing game had to be somewhat expected
due the fact Thorstad is a rookie, and the Valkyries have a number of new
receivers.
In the win over the Wolfpack on Sunday, the Valkyries piled
up 266 yards on the ground, but they also piled up 149 yards thought the air.
Overall, the passing game was more fluid.
Eyolfson connected on 5-of-7 attempts for 79 yards, one
touchdown and no interceptions. Thorstad also hit on 5-of-7 attempts for 70
yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.
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| Samantha Matheson zips downfield for the Valkyries. |
Saskatoon had five different players catch at least two
passes in Carly Dyck, Nadia Doucoure, Alyssa Wiebe, Kelsey Murphy and Samantha
Matheson. Dyck topped all receivers with 41 yards and scored one touchdown.
Matheson, who is a running back, made both of her catches
coming out of the backfield piling up 39 yards and scoring one major. She also
ran the ball four times for 30 yard and scored a touchdown along the ground.
The bulk of Saskatoon’s rushing yards were put up by
all-purpose star tailback Julene Friesen, who ran the ball 10 times for 185
yards and scored two majors. Thorstad had the Valkyries other major along the
ground.
Dyck recorded three singles with two coming off kickoffs and
one off a punt. Saskatoon received two points from a safety to round out its
scoring.
Quarterback Rebecka Clark accounted for all the Wolfpack’s
points on a rushing major. Winnipeg was collected 124 yards along the ground
and 85 yards through the air.
Defensively, the Valkyries received contributions from
everyone on their roster. Denise Kolosky and Devyn Peters each had three solo
tackles for Saskatoon.
Still, the best sight from Sunday’s win was the fact the
Valkyries had good success though the air due to the fact their next two
encounters are with their archrivals the Regina Riot. The more balance the Valkyries
can have offensively it will increase their chances of having better success
against the Riot.
The two teams face each other on Saturday at 7 p.m. at SMF
Field. This will also be the Valkyries “Teal Game,” and they will be doing some
fundraising for Ovarian Cancer Canada.
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| Alex Eyolfson (#15) calls a play in the huddle for the Valkyries. |
The Valkyries and Riot will go at it again on Sunday, May 21
at 7:30 p.m. at old Mosaic Stadium in Regina. The two encounters will play a
huge part in determining the final standings in the Prairie Conference in the
short four-game regular season.
The Riot blanked the Manitoba Fearless 41-0 in their regular
season opener on Sunday in Regina. Veteran running backs Mallory Starkey and
Carmen Agar had big outings in that contest. Starkey carried the ball 13 times
for 106 yards, while Agar ran the ball 12 times for 81 yards and scored one
rushing touchdown.
The Valkyries and Riot split their two regular season
encounters before meeting in the Prairie Conference final. Saskatoon claimed
last year’s Prairie Conference final 29-14 at SMF Field.
Back in the Express with Dyck
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| An article on Carly Dyck in the pages of the Saskatoon Express. |
I was back in the pages of the Saskatoon Express this week
with a feature story on veteran Valkyries receiver Carly Dyck.
Dyck is playing in her sixth WWCFL season. She spent three
campaigns with her hometown Lethbridge Steel and is now in her third season
with the Valkyries. She joined the Valkyries after settling down in Saskatoon.
In the piece, Dyck
talks about her experience at the Women’s World Football Games in January. She
reflected on last season and her hopes for this season. She will play for
Canada as a receiver and likely a kicker at the International Federation of
American Football Women’s World Championship, which runs June 24 to 30 in
Langley, B.C.
Dyck wanted to
ensure she learned all of the U.S. football rules at the Women’s World Football
Games in order to be prepared for Women’s World Championship in Langley.
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| Carly Dyck, middle, powers downfield for the Valkyries. |
“I wanted to be able
to focus on myself,” said Dyck, who originally moved to Saskatoon to attend the
University of Saskatchewan. “That is kind of what I have been doing all year is
working on me, working on my skills and working on my attitude just so that I’m
ready for worlds.
“That is pretty much
all I have been doing lately is doing anything to be ready for worlds.”
My Express story on Dyck can be found by clicking right here.
My Express story on Dyck can be found by clicking right here.
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comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them
to stankssports@gmail.com.
