After claiming a very-impressive victory at their season opener last weekend, the St. Louis SLAM are primed to keep their record in the Women’s Football Alliance (WFA) unblemished in a road trip.
St. Louis (1-0) travels to Ohio Saturday to face Columbus Chaos (1-0) at Whitehall Yearling High School. Kickoff is set for 5 PM (Central Time).
The SLAM, current defending champs of the WFA Pro Division, certainly displayed impressive play last Saturday in order to impress as they seek a “repeat” later this summer.
After sprinting out to a 28-0 lead in the first quarter, the locals cruised to a 61-0 victory over Dallas Elite Mustangs at Affton High School (RECAP).
“Our goal was to just to come together as a unit and play the best together as we could,” reflected SLAM defensive specialist Mary Altepeter following the shutout that pushed the team’s win-streak to ten games. “We just expect highly of each other, and with that target on our back, we know we have to execute.”
It wasn’t only the returning veterans that executed perfectly last weekend. Newly-installed running back Robin Cooksey scored three touchdowns in her SLAM debut and quickly adapted to the team’s mentality.
“We’re back and we have a goal,” she said afterwards. “And that’s to win.”
Returning jet Jada Humphrey added two endzone rushes in the win while Patrice Fitzpatrick punched a solo romp.
Quarterback Jaime Gaal threw a trifecta of touchdown passes with receivers Kerri McMahan, Sydney Bloch and Amanda Richardson collecting solo snares.
Photo Credit: Gerald Affeldt
But at the heart of the offense was the stellar work of linemates Pamela Green, Tamikka Brents, Marion Ball, Katelynn Hartman-Grier, Antonnia Washington and Caitlin Erickson.
On the other side of the ball, the defense was propelled by Altepeter alongside mainstays Raven Williams, Myah LeFlore, Jasmine Yandell, Stephanie Moore, Jennifer Perkins, Keyonna Smith, Tay Johnson, Kinnaudy Daniles, Taylor Hay, Brooklyn Devitt and Ciara Morgan.
Newcomer Samantha Smiley and a whole crop of defensive rookies got important reps in the Dallas lockdown.
“They played fantastic,” assessed Altepeter of the latest additions. “It was really exciting to watch them play.”
Saturday’s triumph placed the defending champs in a three-way tie with Minnesota Vixen and Nevada Storm, who also won their respective season openers, for top honors in the eight-team WFA Pro American Conference.
The SLAM’s Saturday foe, Columbus Chaos, were also victorious last weekend and looks to keep momentum rolling at their home opener.
The WFA Division 2 rep claimed a hard-fought 16-6 win over Derby City Dynamite Saturday in Louisville, Kentucky.
Photo Credit: Gerald Affeldt
On paper, this weekend’s meeting finds the SLAM heavily-favored. Last season, St. Louis waltzed over Columbus, 51-3. Even in the lopsided win, the locals were respectful of their efforts and play.
“They are a great team,” said the SLAM’s Tay Johnson of the Chaos. “I expect them to come after our necks again, but we’ll be ready.”
“We just need to focus on us and get better,” added Altepeter. “We know what we need to do going forward.”
The SLAM returns home May 10 to face WFA Pro American rival Minnesota Vixen.
For more information, visit their official website.
By trade, he is a six-time, regional Emmy Award-winning news videographer/editor for KTVI/KPLR-TV. By hobby, he is a writer for Litehouse Media, dating back to February 2014. Emphasis is on featuring and promoting local women's sports, but will cover anything that is not reported by traditional media outlets. Also a contributor to local concert reviews. Finally, he prefers Diet Ski over coffee.
