Steel remain positive after lopsided loss to Rage

By Lethbridge Herald on May 2, 2022.

Herald Photo by Justin Seward Lethbridge Steel's Kate McAdam tries to run the ball up the field and preparinf for a tackle from Calgary Rage's Flamont during the season opener at University of Lethbridge Community Stadium on Saturday night

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

For the first time in three years, the Lethbridge Steel female tackle football team hit the gridiron for a Western Women Canadian Football League game  against the Calgary Rage at the University of Lethbridge Community Stadium on Saturday Night.

However, it was a game the girls will want a short-term memory for as the Rage shellacked the Steel 69-0.

“I mean the night was a little rougher than we anticipated,” said Mike Peters, Steel head coach.

“But just to be able to get back out there (and) for the ladies to be able to get some competition is incredible.”

While Peters realized that Calgary was a good team, he thought once the Steel got to the end of the game that the girls started to understand that they could make those tackles and be in the right spot.

“Honestly, as a coach that makes you feel better,” he said.

“When the score was the way it was, that we didn’t give up and continued to battle and I think there’s a lot of good things we can build on from that aspect.”

The game allowed the team to have an understanding of   what what they need to move forward on.

“And also too, you get a greater understanding of where you have athletes and things of that nature and it brings the team together,” he said.

Moving forward, Peter says a big thing is communication.

“I felt at times, we wanted to be a little quiet — we’re kind of shrank under the bright lights a little bit,” he said.

“So, I’d like to see the team kind of stay more into their concepts, what we’ve taught them, and just stay committed to each other.”

Nicole van Rootselaar shifted into the quarterback position this year and said, “It just felt amazing to be here back playing a sport I absolutely love and with these ladies that are amazing.”

She thought her first game at quarterback went really good considering all but two players on offense were new to their position or to the game of football.

“I think we had a lot of good learning experiences and now I’m a bit more seasoned,” she said.

“(I) got through the first game, got in some successful passes, got in some good handoffs and yeah just ready to get in a couple more weeks of practice and hit the field again.”

The Steel will hit the field for their second game of the season on May 21 against the Edmonton Storm at 2 p.m. in Raymond.