Game Recap vs. Wisconsin Dragons 4-20-19

Minnesota Vixen win 21st season home opener By Jodi Rehlander It was a beautiful spring night in the Midwest, but winter came for the Wisconsin Dragons (1-1) in the form of a 35-6 loss at the hands of the Minnesota Vixen (2-0) in Women's Football Alliance action on Saturday night at Kuhlman Field in Edina. Minnesota was celebrating their 21st season home opener, and it came with a brush with celebrity as Minnesota Lynx head coach and general manager Cheryl Reeve performed the pregame coin toss. The Vixen have worked hard on increasing their public profile and awareness, and Reeve's presence helped attract two of the Twin Cities' main television networks to the game. After all the hoopla, the Vixen, who struggled early against Kansas City two weeks ago, again had a bit of a rocky start, turning the ball over on their first two possessions. But they found their footing by the end of the first quarter and capped a solid drive with a dogged 1-yard plunge into the end zone by Jeanie "Tank" Nelson. The Vixen racked up another score in the second quarter when Nelson used a pair of bruising stiffarms to keep the Dragons at bay on a 26-yard run. Minnesota led 14-0 at the half. Connor Jo Lewis won a third-quarter race to the pylon, Nelson scored again, and Bella McGrath tiptoed down the left sideline to round out the day for Minnesota. Wisconsin's only score of the night came two plays into the fourth quarter on a well-executed pass route through the heart of the Vixen defense. But that was one of few bright spots for the Dragons offense, which was picked off six times by Amanda Atkins, Erin Tilford, Caitlin Hill, Ashley Green and Lewis, who had two. The Vixen also blocked a field goal and a PAT during the game. The two teams will meet twice more during the regular season. Next up for Minnesota is their second and final bye week. After that they host a rematch with the Kansas City Titans at Farmington High School on Saturday, May 4.