After posting a pair of dominant victories that launched their 2017 campaign in the Women’s Football Alliance (WFA), the St. Louis SLAM tackle football franchise had to patiently wait for its third game of the season.
Image Credit: Mick Lite/Arch City Sports
On the plus-side, the respite gave the squad (2-0) an opportunity to heal up and fine tune mechanics heading into its road battle with cross-state rival Kansas City (2-0) this Saturday night.
However, one will have to admit that the SLAM currently displays the most impressive roster in their thirteen year existence and yearns to unleash that fury again this weekend. Following St. Louis’ 55-0 home thrashing of Madison two Saturdays ago, the team was immediately chomping at the bit to face their undefeated Show-Me State sistren.
“It sucks to have a bye week so early in the year and then wait,” jokingly said the SLAM’s Danielle Price of the layoff. “But we’re gonna take that bus ride and make it worth it in the end.”
“We needed these two weeks to let our bodies rest,” added SLAM linebacker Raven Williams. “It also helps us to get a lot of practice in. When we get to Kansas City, we’ll be one hundred percent ready.”
Image Credit: Mick Lite/Arch City Sports
The SLAM’s multi-layered offense has running backs Taylor Hay and Mary Altepeter, who each have two end zone romps this season, supplementing an aerial attack that is propelled by quarterback Jaime Gaal and receivers Price, Kaylee Nuetzling, Kim Kinsella, Keyonna Smith and Chelsea Clay.
St. Louis’ defense is paced by the aforementioned Williams, Tiffany Pugh, Jelani Kelly, Robyn Morrow, Pamela Green and Brooklyn Bastain.
The SLAM’s Saturday opponent also wishes to keep their record unblemished.
The undefeated KC Titans claimed a forfeit victory two weekends ago against the Nebraska Stampede that resulted in their second win but their 41-0 season-opening victory over the Minnesota Machine provided a glimpse of a potential WFA post-season entrant.
Judging from their lone contest, Kansas City seems to rely heavily on the rushing game. The “one/two punch” of running backs Morgan Raukar and Brittany Williams, who each posted triple-digit yardage performances against Nebraska, will be the focal point.
Defensively, the Titans are paced by Krishna Lee, Lanie Ford, Benita Jones, Jamiene Wiggins-Turner, Nyala Bulock and Syreeta Gapelu.
Saturday’s battle could potentially be pinned on each team’s stubborn defenses and St. Louis eagerly desires to notch their third win.
“It’s rivalry week,” said Price. “We’re going to be excited.”
For more information on the St. Louis SLAM, go to 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 Arch City 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.
