By: Jim Wallin (LFL360.com)
Photo: Joe Petro/LFL PHOTOS
Two teams who began the season with impressive road wins now meet at its end, each eyeing .500 records and at least 4th place in the Western Conference as the No. 8 Minnesota Valkyrie travel west to face-off with the No. 6 Seattle Mist.
Minnesota, one of the LFL’s five expansion teams, scored an impressive 28-25 road victory in August at Green Bay for the franchise’s first win. But Valkyrie Head Coach Tony Nguyen’s team has incurred key injuries that some experts argue were key in their two home losses to Los Angeles (28-7) and Chicago (40-33) and now the team is looking to surface after falling below .500 after two inspiring but ultimately disappointing performances.
The return of starting quarterback Jana Skrtic will determine how high the ceiling truly is for this offense heading into an important off-season. Stand-out wide receiver Whitney Meierotto and tight-end Cydney Froelich look to be cornerstones for this franchise for years to come and seem to have a home in Nguyen’s self-described ‘College Bend’ offense.
Also, starting running back Lisa Bastien may return after suffering an Achilles’ injury in the opening night win at Green Bay. If she is unable to go, Katrina Stewart will taqke her place.
Minnesota’s 9th ranked defense will have to overcome injuries to starting defensive-ends Leekplay Paye and Brittany Austin as the Valkyrie start an all-new front three, with Kendra Ruff moves up from safety and Leah Perzichilli joining her at defensive end, with Vanessa Varichak making her debut at linebacker. In the secondary, Angie Hanson is joined by Roxy Berning in the starting lineup with Meierotto sliding back to safety and Katrina Stewart also cracking the lineup.
The Valkyrie defense has struggled so far this season, yielding 31 points-per-game but showing flashes of effectiveness and simply lacks consistency.
The Seattle Mist enter the action trying to recover after a hard-fought, but ultimately disappointing, 27-24 loss at Los Angeles and will secure a .500 record with a win against Minnesota.
Seattle’s offense begins and ends with the strong play of running back Kam Warner. Warner, who is expected to retire at the end of the season, is among the league leaders on both sides of the football and is the engine that powers the Mist offense.
Whether Mist Head Coach Chris Michaelson starts veteran Laurel Creel or rookie Angela Rypien at quarterback, the success of his Bill Walsh-inspired west coast offense relies on strong play from the passing game, notably stand-out wide receivers Jessica Hopkins and Ericka Smith as well as tight-ends Shea Norton and Natalie Sutey.
The Mist defense, who boasts a much improved attack in 2011, is anchored by leading tackler Warner at linebacker, LaShaunda Fowler and Sutey on the defensive line and Hopkins at safety. The success of the defense hinges on creating turnovers, much like the NFL’s Chicago Bears.
GAME INFORMATION
ARENA: ShoWare Center (Kent, WA – INDOORS, ARTIFICIAL SURFACE)
KICKOFF: 9:00 p.m. PT
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
MINNESOTA VALKYRIE: QB JANA SKRTIC | RB LISA BASTIEN | WR/S – WHITNEY MEIEROTTO | TE – CYDNEY FROELICH
SEATTLE MIST: QB/S - LAUREL CREEL RB/LB | KAM WARNER | WR/S – JESSICA HOPKINS
INJURIES:
MINNESOTA: SKRTIC (WRIST-PROBABLE) | BASTIEN (FOOT – QUESTIONABLE | PAYE (UNDISCLOSED-OUT) | AUSTIN (KNEE – OUT) | BENDIJO (KNEE-OUT)
SEATTLE: TO BE RELEASED
2010 Result: No previous meeting.
BETTING LINE: TO BE ANNOUNCED
Tags: game 21, Jim Wallin, Minnesota Valkyrie, preview, Seattle Mist
