Medford, Massachusetts June 24, 2006
This was a game with a playoff atmosphere as the undefeated Mid Atlantic division champion New York Sharks were battling the undefeated North Atlantic division champion Bay State Warriors. Both teams had a perfect 7-0 record and both teams doing it with defense. Bay State’s defense averaged giving up only 3 points per game while New York’s defense averaged only giving up 5 points per game. With their division titles clinched, this game still held a lot of importance as the victor would gain home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs. And depending on the Detroit Demoliton vs. Atlanta Xplosion game later in the day, the victor could clinch home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
It had been raining for a few days in New England, but when the teams took the field the skies were threatening but the rain stayed away.
The Bay State Warriors began the game by winning the coin toss but deferring their decision to the second half. This gave the New York Sharks the ball. After the kick-off, the Sharks started on their own 40-yard line. Mixing up their play calling with runs and pass plays, the Sharks were able to march the ball down the field to the Bay State 23-yard line. A highlight of the drive was a twisting 20-yard pass reception by Junko Tanida from quarterback Karen Mulligan. But as New York was threatening they fumbled the ball away. Mulligan had stepped back to pitch the ball and threw it way past the runner and it was recovered by the Warriors.
Bay State took advantage of the New York turnover by letting team captain Kimberly Boroyan lead the way. Four straight times the captain got the ball and she was able to pick up 58 yards. The bulk coming on two plays, a running play in which she got some nice blocks by her receivers to pick up 28 yards and she got another 23 yards on a sideline pass from quarterback Nisa Packert.
The Warriors tried to change gears a bit and gave the ball to Laurie Glinner and Gina Nawazelski. The Sharks defense stiffened up and forced a fourth down situation with the ball sitting on the Sharks’ 12-yard line with 5 yards to go. The Bay State brain trust decided to go for the points instead of the first down and sent in their kicking team. The Warriors were trying to be the first team to score in the first quarter against the Sharks and they were successful as kicker Tina Carrabbaa split the uprights on a 29-yard field goal attempt to put New England up, 3-0 with 4:52 left in the quarter.
It was the first time all season that the young Sharks team was behind in a game and it would be interesting to see how they would respond and respond they did. It started with a short kick by the Warriors on the ensuing kick-off. Mandy Oppel returned the ball by breaking a full tackles and giving New York great field position at the Bay State 41-yard line. But the Sharks hit a quick road bump when running back sensation Yumi Warner was stuffed in the backfield for a 7-yard loss. Warner did not start the game as she was coming off an injury during the Montreal game last week which sent her to the hospital in Canada. With a long second down play, Vivian Alberty was given the ball and she promptly plowed her way up the middle and got the 7 yards back. Facing a third down and 10 situation, Mulligan connected with Lisa Doran for a 10-yard gain and a first down. Mulligan again hit Doran for a short 6-yard gain. The ball was now on the Warrior’s 25-yard line but the drive started to stall after an incomplete pass and a no gain run by Warner. It was a big fourth down situation and Mulligan hit veteran Jen Blum on a quick slant pattern that gave New York the first down.
The ball was now resting on the Bay State 10-yard line when Mulligan faked a handoff to Alberty but kept it herself and ran the ball in for the Sharks’ first touchdown of the day. The extra point attempt went wide, but New York had the lead 6-3 with 14:55 left in the first half.
On the next two drives, each team traded punts. With the second half coming to an end, the Warriors were putting on an impressive drive. They started from their own 21-yard line and using the ground and air game, they were able to get down to the New York 5-yard line. The highlight of the drive for Bay State was a 49-yard run by Carrie Walters as she danced down the right sideline. The Sharks tried to push her out of bounds at the Warrior 47-yard line but she stayed inbounds to pick up another 37 yards.
The two minute warning was given and it looked like Bay State was going to take the lead again. With the ball on the Sharks’ 8-yard line, Dawn Herring drove up the middle and into the endzone. But it was promptly called back due to a holding call. The home team was still in good shape with the ball on the 14-yard line. They wanted to end the drive with either a touchdown to take the lead or a field goal to tie it. Instead they got neither.
Packert took a quick drop and then tried to hit Herring on a quick slant, but she didn’t see New York defender Christina Pagan. Pagan stepped in front of the receiver and picked off the ball at the Sharks’ 12 yard line. She then ran straight down the left side of the field for 88-yard interception returned for a touchdown. It was the longest in team’s history, breaking an 80-yard return held by Darleen “Blue” Hall. The Sharks tried to go for the 2-point conversion but the pitch to Warner was not sucessful, still the score was 12-3 in favor of New York with only 1:55 left in the half.
That play definitely was a major disappointment for Bay State. Instead of leading in the game or at least being tied going into the locker room, they were further behind. But the Warriors did not quit as they came out all fired up in the second half.
Bay State started the second half by receiving the ball. They started the drive on their own 43-yard line. Staying mainly on the ground, the Warriors were able to move the ball as they pushed New York defensive line backwards. Runs by Herring, Boroyan, and Walters moved the ball all the way down to the Sharks’ 14-yard line before the drive stalled. Carrabba came in to attempt a 29-yard field goal attempt but the kick went wide and the Sharks dodged a bullet.
But the Sharks promptly gave the gun back to the Warriors as they fumbled the ball right back to Bay State. The Warriors got the ball back on the Sharks 36-yard line. This time they went to the air and got the ball down to the 3-yard line. But after 3 straight running plays Bay State could only gain one yard. On fourth down, Bay State went for it and Packard punched it in to close the gap 12-9 with 3:19 left in the third quarter. Twice New York had turned over the ball and twice Bay State made them pay for it.
The Sharks tried to answer back and started their own drive to the Warriors’ endzone. But it died when New York suffered their third turnover of the game as they fumbled the ball away at the Bay State 21-yard line. But this time the defense was up to the task and forced Bay State to punt.
This time the Sharks took advantage of a turnover as the snap went over the punter’s head. The ball bounced towards away and Pagan was the Shark on the spot and recovered the ball. With the ball on the Warriors’ 17-yard line New York tried to run the ball in. Alberty picked up 7 yards on two carries but Warner was hit in the backfield for a 2-yard loss. It was now fourth down and Coach Vance decided to go for it. Mulligan dropped back and hit Tanida for a clutch first down play. The ball was now resting on the 2-yard line and it was Vivian time. Mulligan handed the ball off to Alberty and she plowed her way into the endzone to make the score 18-9 with only 8:02 left in the game.
The Warriors were down by 9 points but they didn’t give up. With the help of two big penalties, one being a personal foul and the other on pass interference, Bay State was threatening again. They had the ball on the 22-yard line and after a nice run by Walters they were at the Sharks door at the 3-yard line. Boroyan then punched it in for the touchdown. Carrabba split the uprights for the extra point and the Warriors were within 2 points with 5:22 left to go in the game.
But after every Bay State score, the Sharks were able to answer back. And this time was no different. After the ensuing kick-off the Sharks were starting on their own 41-yard line. Alberty took the hand-off but could only gain 1 yard as the Bay State defense were keying on her. Rookie running back sensation Warner had been held in check by the Warriors all day. Maybe she was still not fully 100% after getting banged up in Canada, but that concern quickly disappeared as she used her speed to turn the right corner and scampered for 60-yards for a touchdown. The touchdown was her fifteenth of the season and set a new Sharks’ single season record of touchdowns scored, originally set by Jen Blum in 2005. Coach Vance then chose to go for the 2-point conversion but the pass attempt failed with only 4:18 remaining in the game.
New York’s defense took care of the rest and the Sharks held on to finish the regular season with a perfect 8-0 record. This was the second time that New York had faced Bay State in which both teams were undefeated going into the game, and this was the second that the Sharks came out of the matchup unblemished.
Bay State gave the Sharks their toughest game of the regular season but New York was up to the challenge. The defense came up big when it had to, and coach Vance gave defensive game balls to Pagan, Faith Mitchell, and Lorrie Greene.
With the victory, combined with the Atlanta loss to Detroit, clinches home field advantage for the Sharks throughout the playoffs. Their first round opponent will be the wild card Miami Fury and that game will take place on Saturday, July 8th at Monsignor Farrell High School in Staten Island. Kick-off time is 4pm and tickets are now on sale, including the owner’s box seats as well as the popular 2 cent ticket.
If you can’t make it to the game, you can still follow all the action as Pat Brown and Dave Maxwell will provide the call on our flag-ship station WFNradio.com starting at 3:45pm.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Sharks | 0 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 24 |
| Bay State Warriors | 3 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 16 |
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
BS – (04:52) Carrabba 29 yard field goal
Second Quarter
NY – (14:55) Mulligan 10 yard run (kick failed)
NY – (01:20) Pagan 88 yard interception return (run failed)
Third Quarter
BS – (03:19) Packard 2 yard run (kick failed)
Fourth Quarter
NY – (08:02) Alberty 2 yard run (kick failed)
BS – (05:22) Boroyan 3 yard run (Carrabba kick)
NY – (04:18) Warner 60 yard run (pass failed)