The New England Intensity Opens Their Inaugural Season in the WPFL with a Victory

Medway, MA— It was a long off-season for the New England Intensity women’s football team—a time filled with strength and conditioning programs, hard-hitting defensive practices, and strategic, choreographed offensive practices. The many months of hard work finally paid off for the Intensity on Saturday night when they blanked the visiting Albany Ambush, 26-0.

The Intensity started the game by kicking off to Albany and quickly stifling their first attempt to move downfield. When the Intensity offense took the field, they executed both running and passing plays effectively. This quickly brought them into Ambush territory and produced a 13-yard pass from QB Val Halesworth to RB Lauren Manfred for the Intensity’s first touchdown of the game. K/LB Sara Sermuksnis successfully booted the extra point for the Intensity. The score at the end of the first quarter was 7-0, New England.

The second quarter brought two more touchdowns for the Intensity, one 15-yard pass from QB Halesworth to TE Kate Slack, and one 5-yard run by game captain and RB Stephenie Samuelson. Kicker Sermuksnis missed both PAT attempts in the 2^nd quarter. The Ambush offense was shut down in each of its attempts to score against the resilient Intensity defense. The Intensity retained their lead into the half, 19-0.

Albany came into the 3^rd quarter determined to score on the New England, but the Intensity defense held strong and again prevented the Ambush from getting on the board.

The Ambush defense proved an equal match for the Intensity offense during the third quarter, keeping the score at 19-0.

In the last quarter of this exciting season opener, the Intensity offense tacked on some insurance points with a 9-yard touchdown run by RB Manfred. This time Sermuksnis effortlessly put the ball through the uprights for the PAT. In addition to the success of the offense, the Intensity defense was effective in blocking every Ambush attempt to score. Despite the number of yards lost due to penalties (7 penalties for 55 yards), New England played well on both sides of the ball and handed Albany its first loss of the 2006 WPFL season.

QB Halesworth completed 12 out of 15 passes for a total of 169 yards. The Intensity rushed 21 times for a total of 175 yards. In comparison, the Ambush completed 2 out 11 attempts for 26 yards, had 1 interception, and rushed 35 times for 153 yards. Albany also fumbled twice during the game. Intensity RB Samuelson had a total of 105 yards in this 26-0 victory.

Catch more Intensity action at their three remaining home games on August 26, September 16 and September 23. For more info, visit the Intensity website at www.newenglandintensity.com