Steel excited for 2023 season

By Lethbridge Herald on May 5, 2023.

Herald photo by JUSTIN SEWARD Lethbridge Steel’s Megan Croy squeezes through the opening during the vice drill at practice on Wednesday at Catholic Central High School.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Steel women’s tackle football team open up their Western Women’s Canadian Football League schedule tonight with a sense of excitement.

“It’s been pretty good,” said Carly Williams, Steel offensive coordinator.

“We had a winter camp in January and we had a better turn out than we expected and then our numbers have whittled down a little bit but we’re the smallest team that plays in the league. So we consistently have the smallest roster. But this year we have a really great group of ladies out. The atmosphere seems really good. Everybody’s really excited for our first game.”

The Steel added a few players that are new to the sport.

“And they have just meshed really well with the group that we have returning from last year,” said Williams.

The Steel have been using the last number of weeks to get their playbook down pat.

“And the girls who came back from last year said they feel way more prepared compared to this point last year,” said Williams.

While Williams wanted to keep the playbook a little bit of secret, as offensive coordinator, she will bring a hybrid approach to the team from the experiences she had from previous coaching opportunities.

“So it’ll be unique,” she said.

“But we’re going to do the basic things well before we try to make things overcomplicated.”

A good goal for the team in Williams view is getting through a season as injury free as possible and having a good time.

Second-year quarterback Nicole van Rootselaar is feeling positive and really optimistic about the season ahead.

“We have a lot of returning players,” she said.

“Last year we started with four returning players (with) our veteran players. So having 14 or 17 comeback who have that year of experience under their belt is really uplifting for both the returning players and the new players too. There’s been a lot of help with the new players learning the ropes, and seeing a lot of confidence and growth in the returning players and how much they’ve been able to expand their skills just in the last month or so.”

She wants to be more passing completions and more yards and execute passes successfully behind centre this season, while hoping to see the team stick together and work hard.

“I mean last year we really struggled as a team,” she said.

“We had a lot of personal victories, I’d say, but the scoreboard never reflected that. So I’m hoping  the scoreboard shows all the work we’ve  put in and how far we’ve come as players.”

Amy Stolz is a second year player who plays on the offensive and defensive lines, as well as on special teams, and joined the Steel halfway through last season not knowing anything about football.

“I just developed a strong passion for it and this season I’m just so ready,” said Stolz.

“I’ve been studying the playbook. I was named (a) captain this season, which is super awesome for my first full season. There’s lots of great potential out here I think and we have a really good group of girls for sure.”

Stolz thinks from a line perspective, it is important to get the playbook down.

“Especially from the line point of view,” said Stolz.

“Like my job is to protect Nicole. But also just to  have that power (and) that drive to be able to go the ball whenever needed. But also block players that are really key to the game. If I miss my block then it could really impact the plays.”

The team would like to use the season to grow the sport in the city.

“I think our focus is just going to be on the atmosphere of the team and player retention so that we can grow our program going forward,” said Williams.

“It seems like the Lethbridge community doesn’t really know that we exist. So I want to put together like a blood drive and some other community-related events so that our city knows that we are here and we can hopefully get some more players in the years to come.”

Kick-off  is 6 p.m. tonight versus the Calgary Rage at University of Lethbridge Community Sports Stadium.