Team USA wins women's football world title

Newton Kansan

VANTAA, Finland — The town of Hesston has produced its share of great athletes in the past years.

Two of them now have the title of world champions.

Sisters Liz and Katie Sowers played for Team USA, which won the Women's World Championship of American Football after downing Canada 64-0 in the gold medal game Saturday in Vantaa.

Katie Sowers was named to the all-star team at defensive back.

It was the second world title in two tries for Team USA, which is 6-0 in World Championship competition and has outscored opponents 456-7.

It was the second straight time the U.S. downed Canada in the championship game.

In the bronze medal game, Finland edged Germany 20-19. In the fifth-place game, Sweden beat Spain 64-0.

For the second straight game, the U.S. scored on every possession but two — at the end of the half and at the end of regulation.

The U.S. led 36-0 at the half.

Quarterback Sami Grisafe hit 16 of 21 passes for 265 yards and three touchdowns. Karen Mulligan hit seven of seven passes for 102 yards.

Adrienne Smith had four catches for 117 yards and a touchdown. Holly Peterson had seven catches for 99 yards. Liz Sowers and Jeanette Gray each added a touchdown catch.

Mia Brickhouse had four rushes for eight yards, but all four carries were touchdowns. Odessa Jenkins had seven carries for 84 yards and a touchdown. Cassey Brick had five carries for 80 yards. Donna Wilkinson added a touchdown carry.

On defense, Victoria Eddy had eight total tackles, followed by Jennifer Plummer with seven. Katie Sowers had four total tackles, three solo. Liz Sowers had one tackle, also a solo tackle.

For Canada, Lya Jollcoeur had 13 carries for 41 yards rushing. Quarterback Saadia Achraf hit four of 20 passes for 41 yards and an interception. Julie Paetsch had 12 total tackles, 11 solo.

Canada 0 0 0 0 —0

USA 16 20 14 14 —64

Scoring

1q. US Brickhouse 3-yd. run (Gray pass from Grisafe) 6:65

1q. US Brickhouse 2-yd. run (Jenkins run) 2:07

2q. US Gray 10-yd. pass from Grisafe (run failed) 7:37

2q. US Jenkins 1-yd. run (Brickhouse run) 3:25

2q. US Smith 73-yd. pass from Grisafe (Brickhouse run) 2:01

3q. US L.Sowers 12-yd. pass from Grisafe (Brickhouse run) 6:28

3q. US Brickhouse 1-yd. run (pass failed) 2:15

4q. US Brickhouse 2-yd. run (Larsen kick) 9:18

4q. US Wilkinson 1-yd. run (Larsen kick) 5:56

Team stats

Can. US

First downs 7 28

Rushing-yards 26-15 30-363

Passing yards 41 367

Comp-att-int 4-20-1 23-28-0

Punts-avg. 7-31.1 0-0

Fumbles-lost 2-0 0-0

Penalties-yards 7-45 9-64