Pittsburgh Passion GameDay: Carolina Phoenix Comes To The South Side

The Pittsburgh Passion look to extend their unbeaten streak to five games tonight when they host the defending Independent Women’s Football League champion Carolina Phoenix in a rematch of their Week 1 season opener.

The gates are set to open at 5:30 p.m. with kick-off at 7 p.m. at Cupples Stadium on the South Side.

The Passion remains tied with the Keystone Assault for first place in the Mid-Atlantic Division as both teams have identical 4-0 records. Meanwhile, Carolina is in third place in the South Atlantic Division with a record of 2-3. When the Passion and Phoenix met in the season opener at Durham County Stadium in North Carolina, it was Pittsburgh who came away with a victory on the road 29-6.

Last Saturday, Pittsburgh’s dynamic offense put up 35 points on the scoreboard in their home opener against the Montreal Blitz. The Black and Gold has scored 137 points in 2014 while the defense has two shutouts in four games and allowing just 12 points this season.

Quarterback Lisa Horton continues to show why she is one of the top signal callers in the league as she completed 18 passes for 380 yards and four touchdowns against Montreal. She also had 30 rushing yards on five carries and one touchdown. Wide Receiver Angela Baker hauled in seven passes for 93 yards and two touchdowns while Rachel Wojdowski caught three passes for 83 yards and two touchdowns. Amanda Haeg contributed six receptions for 141 yards. Haeg set a Pittsburgh record when her first catch of the contest was the 100th of her career.

Running back Clara Chic contributed 25 rushing yards on 11 carries to lead the ground game.

The Phoenix are coming off a 26-6 win on the road over the Carolina Queens last weekend. Carolina’s offense has been able to light up the scoreboard as they put up 127 points in five games while the defense has allowed 97 total points over five games. They are 1-2-0 at home and 1-1-0 on the road this season.

Pittsburgh saw their defense take charge and not look back last week against Montreal. Defensive end Jessica Nelko had a career game with three sacks and a total of seven tackles while fellow defensive end Kim Zubovic contributed one sack and five tackles. Linebacker Olivia Griswold also had five tackles and one sack on the evening. Defensive back Michelle Brevard-Peters put up six tackles along with a pass deflection.

Special teams are not to be left out of the conversation as kicker Amy Fallon was 3 of 4 on extra-points against Montreal. Baker added a two-point conversion in the third quarter.

The third game of the four game homestand continues next week when Pittsburgh will host a rematch from Week #3 when the New York Sharks come to town on Saturday, May 24, at 7 p.m.