Queens, New York, April 12, 2003
Last year the Sharks played their home opener at August Martin High School. This year the Sharks played their home opener at August Martin High School. Last year the Sharks first game was against the Montreal Blitz. This year the Sharks first game was against the Montreal Blitz. Last year, the day started off raining. This year the day started off raining. Last year the Sharks shutout the Montreal Blitz on their way to winning the Independent Women’s League Championship. This year the Sharks shutout the Montreal Blitz, and well we can hope the rest will go the same way too.

The Sharks started the game by winning the coin toss and elected to receive. Virginia Leon caught the kickoff on New York’s 29 yard line, went to her left and then headed up field. She kept on heading up field as she ran past would be tacklers until she was caught at Montreal’s 7 yard line. Two plays later, quarterback Val Halesworth found running back Courtney Eaton in the end zone for a touchdown at 12:54. Halesworth then ran up the middle to complete the 2-point conversion. So before you could finish putting mustard on your hot dog, the Sharks were off and running to an 8-0 lead.

The Sharks quickly got the ball back after the defense held Montreal to three and out. The Blitz punted but after a nifty 35 yard punt return by Halesworth, the Sharks had the ball on Montreal’s 30 yard line. Four plays later, New York was on the scoreboard again, as Halesworth called her own number to score from the 2 yard line. The Sharks went for the 2 point conversion and was successful as Halesworth found her favorite target, Valerie Monaco in the end zone. This made the score 16-0 with 7:51 left in the first quarter.

The Sharks scored again early in the second quarter. After the defense was able to push the Blitz backwards, Montreal was forced to punt from their goal line. It was an opportunity that New York rarely passes on. The Sharks returned the ball back to Montreal’s 12 yard line and after a 7 yard Leon rush to her right, she followed with a run up the middle for the Sharks’ third touchdown of the day. Liz Presto caught the 2 point conversion pass from Halesworth to boost the lead to 24-0 with 12:05 left in the half.

The rest of the second quarter become the Missy Marmorale show. With the Blitz not going anywhere with their running game, they tried to open it up a bit with the pass. But with the passing game, you need to give your quarterback some time to find her open receivers. Marmorale didn’t give the Blitz quarterbacks Saadia Ashraf and Nancy Hamel anytime as she continually busted through the line to greet the Canadian players face to face. To add insult to injury, Marmorale as running back scored on a 16 yard scamper up the middle just after the two-minute warning. The 2 point conversion attempt failed but the score was now 30-0. To put the icing on the cake Marmorale had her fourth and last sack of the quarter just as the half ended.

As the day unfolded, the skies cleared and the sun shone brightly with the temperature in the mid-60’s. It was a gorgeous day to enjoy the New York outdoors, unless you were the Blitz. The second half got no better for Montreal. Even though they are in their second season, they have a new head coach Ron Legault and are still learning his system. The Sharks defense continued to stop the Blitz but were now starting to dominate the visitors. The Sharks stopped two Montreal possessions with turnovers. Right after the Sharks kicked off to start the third quarter, they got the ball back on a Chrissy Hilla interception. When Montreal got the ball back again, the defense pushed the Blitz back and forced them to fumble on their own 4 yard line. Marmorale was around to recover the ball and one play later, Leon ran it in to make the score 36-0. The Sharks failed on the 2 point conversion with 9:03 left in the third quarter.

Possibly the highlight of the game for the Blitz was a 47 yard punt, that pushed the Sharks back to their own 19 yard line. But any optimism was short-lived as the Sharks started a 9 play touchdown drive with the key plays being a two 20+ yard passes from Halesworth to Monaco. New York scoring on the second pass at 14:55 in the fourth quarter. The Sharks added 2 more points on the conversion after a catch by Jennifer Blum from Halesworth to make the score 44-0.

The Sharks ended their scoring after linebacker Hilla batted a Blitz pass and caught the ball for her second interception of the game. She then returned the ball to Montreal’s 12 yard line. Andra Douglas came into the game as quarterback and handed it off to Eaton who scored not only the touchdown but also on the 2 point conversion. That made the score 52-0 with 12:28 left in the game.

New York’s defense just took over the rest of the game as Hilla caused a fumble on the next Montreal possession and later Monica Marsh grabbed an interception on the very last play of the game.

There might have been some question marks with all of the rookie starting on the offensive line before the game started, but they were quickly dispelled today. The Sharks looked strong as usual as both offense and defense clicked. New York punished their opponents with the same ferocity as last year.

After the game, head coach Nick Giannatasio congratulated his team on a job well done. He gave out a game ball to the defense for their first shut out of the season and the team’s 6th shutout under Giannatasio. The defense also did not give up a first down to Montreal for the whole game. Game balls were also given out to Marmorale and Marsh for their sparkling play, though he did mention that there were plenty of other players who were as deserving.

This was a history making game as it was the first time the Sharks have broadcasted the game over the Internet. Announcers Michael Artsis and Joseph Marcus provided the play-by-play.

The Sharks will take their 15 game winning streak to the City of Brotherly Love as they take on the Philadelphia Liberty Belles. The Liberty Belles are former champions from 2001 and this game should be a tough test for the Shark rookies. The game will begin at 7pm on Saturday, April 19th.

Scoring Summary

First Quarter
NY – (12:54) Eaton 7 yard pass from Halesworth (Monaco pass from Halesworth)
NY – (07:51) Halesworth 1 yard run (Monaco pass from Halesworth)

Second Quarter
NY – (12:05) Leon 7 yard run (Presto pass from Halesworth)
NY – (01:55) Marmorale 16 yard run (pass failed)

Third Quarter
NY – (09:03) Leon 4 yard run (pass failed)

Fourth Quarter
NY – (14:55) Monaco 24 yard pass from Halesworth (Blum pass from Halesworth)
NY – (12:28) Eaton 12 yard run (Eaton run)