Game date: April 7, 2018 @ Otto Breitenbach Stadium, Middleton, WI
The official opening weekend of the Women’s Football Alliance sees the Minnesota Vixen on the road to start their 20th anniversary season, continuing a longtime rivalry with the Madison Blaze.
Both teams are experiencing change, with a new ownership structure for the Blaze and a new head coach for the Vixen in team owner and former player Laura Brown.
“(It’s) always a tough border battle with the Madison Blaze,” says Brown. “The first game of the season is our chance to see all of the hard work in the preseason finally pay off.”
The Vixen’s tryouts last fall were well-attended, with more than 100 women vying for a spot on the 2018 roster. Several promising rookies have been added to a solid veteran core that includes six 2017 WFA All-Americans.
Danny Ekstrand, who coached wide receivers last year, has big plans in his new role as offensive coordinator, with an up-tempo style that focuses on getting started fast. Minnesota’s offense averaged 325 yards per game last year, good for third in the league.
Players to watch include Kiersten Hansen at quarterback, Grace Cooper at running back and wide receiver Sam Barber, who led the WFA with 889 yards and 11 touchdowns on 45 receptions in 2017. On defense, Cynthia “Red” Bryant anchors the line for a hungry bunch of ball hawks who forced 12 fumbles and racked up 20 interceptions in 2017.
Also on the Vixen sideline will be Jeff Gehring as running backs coach, Adam Griffith as special teams/defensive backs coach, Nick Leach as defensive coordinator, Jake Potter as wide receivers coach, John Taylor for the offensive line, and assistant coaches Andrew Carbone and Jason Cornelison. Brown is also handling defensive line duties.
The Vixen will post live updates on Twitter during their away games this year, and for the third year in a row Town Square Television will broadcast home games live on local cable access channels and streaming online.
Website: www.mnvixen.com
Facebook: Minnesota Vixen Women's Football
Twitter: @MinnVixen (live updates during games)
Live stream and replay of home games: Town Square Television
