By Dan Whenesota
https://www.whenesota.com/when-esota/when-esota-blog/vixen
Long lines at food trucks to purchase pronto pups and other deep fried foods. Booths that provide artistic activities for children and others that sell Minnesota themed merchandise.
One might think I'm describing the state fair, which, as always, is right around the corner. But I’m actually describing the Minnesota Vixen football team's Pride celebration Saturday. Not to be confused with their opponent that evening, the Nebraska Pride, who's mascot is a lion.
For those who haven’t heard of the Minnesota Vixen, they are a women’s professional football team that has existed since 1999, currently playing in the WFA (Women’s Football Alliance) - at the league’s highest level, the Pro Division, since 2021. The term “professional” is a bit misleading though. Unlike many professional sports athletes, these players don’t get paid. According to the team’s public address announcer, Brian Sweeney, not only are they unpaid, each player must pay a fee and cover their own travel. They play for the love of the game.
The Vixen, wearing their alternate "Pride" jerseys to commemorate the first weekend in June and LGBTQ rights, dispatched the Nebraska Pride (football team) 34-0 at Kuhlman field in Edina Saturday. It was the final regular season home game for the Vixen who now sit at 4-1 and in 2nd place in the WFA American Division standings.
The Vixen defense was the story of this game, not only pitching a shutout but also holding Nebraska to 2 first downs in the opening half, and 98 total yards offense for the entire game. Sam Barber led the Vixen defense with 11 tackles. Kaylee Damison and C.J. Doby each had drive killing sacks in the 3rd quarter making the night even more difficult for Nebraska.
The Vixen offense uncharacteristically struggled at times, with false starts and holding penalties. Three of those penalties came on the second drive of the game, which left the offense facing 2nd and 30 from midfield, rather than in the red zone on the verge of a second touchdown. Asked about the team’s atypical performance, offensive line coach Michele Braun said that Nebraska had them “out of sorts”, using different formations that they hadn’t seen before.
The offense was led by the sure arm of Erin “E.K.” Kelley who was 25-37 for 281 yards and 3 TD’s. The longest of those was a 53 yard strike to Jackie Radford in the final minutes of the game. Radford led the team in receiving, catching 14 passes for 165 yards and 2 touchdowns. Running back, Johanna Vermohlen added 58 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
The Vixen head to St. Louis to play the Slam next weekend for the final game of the regular season. The Slam have defeated the Vixen in their last 4 meetings, although the last game (earlier this season) was by the slimmest of margins, 41-40 and handing the Vixen their only loss. The way it’s shaping up, the Vixen will host a home playoff game in the next few weeks. If they win that game, it could set up yet another matchup with the Slam, again in St. Louis, for the conference championship. The winner of the conference championship will advance to the WFA national championship game in Canton, Ohio on July 27. That game will be televised on ESPN 2.
