USA WINS GOLD MEDAL AT FIRST EVER IFAF WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP OF AMERICAN FOOTBALL IN SWEDEN

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The United States won the first ever Gold Medal at the inaugural IFAF Women's World Championship with a 66-0 victory over Canada at the Zinkensdamms IP Stadium in Stockholm, Sweden on Saturday, July 03. Earlier in the day, Finland won the Bronze medal with a 26-18 win over Germany, while on a good day for Scandinavia, host Sweden took fifth place overall by beating Austria 20-18. Team USA head coach John Konecki said afterwards, “Canada was an excellent team and we had to work our butt off to prepare and play against them. I feel honored to have coached this Team USA. It is a remarkable group of women. 

Defensive Most Valuable Player Sharon Vasquez of the Pittsburg Passion added:  “It was amazing to win gold medal. It was very emotional. We played an awesome team and it feels great to be in this moment,” said Vasquez.  

USA now holds all IFAF tackle football world titles with the USA Football Women's National Team joining their male counterparts, who won the senior crown in 2007 against Japan, and the juniors (aged 19 and under), who beat Canada to lift the 2009 IFAF Junior World Championship.  

USA SHUTS OUT FINLAND TO REACH WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP GOLD MEDAL GAME

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Kansas City Tribe running back Rusty Sowers claimed a second-straight MVP award as she scored a hat trick of touchdowns among the Americans' 11 visits to the end zone, with two scoring grabs and the first punt return for six points in tournament history. 

Nine different US players scored touchdowns, while linebacker Elina Seppala was named the MVP for Finland. Team USA has now scored 135 points in two games and conceded none, making them a formidable Gold Medal game opponent for Canada on Saturday.  The Canadians have scored 32 points and conceded 18 in their two wins.

Jenny Schmidt from the KC Tribe started at quarterback for USA after Finland had gone three and out on the opening possession and hit Sowers for a key third down conversion on the Americans' opening drive. 

New York Sharks receiver Adrienne Smith, who scored the first points in IFAF Women's World Championship history on Saturday, took a quick screen pass for a 17-yard touchdown and a 7-0 USA lead with 8:50 remaining in the first quarter.

Finland recovered a surprise USA onside kick attempt, but after Pittsburgh Passion's Sharon Vasquez almost intercepted a second down pass from Finland quarterback Jenni Wahlberg, a sack by Olivia Griswold of the Passion on fourth down meant the US took over on downs from their own 35.

The rushing of Sowers, Boston Militia's Mia Brickhouse and a quarterback sneak on fourth down kept the chains moving and on her fifth carry in a row for, Brickhouse went in for a five-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion failed, leaving the Americans 13-0 ahead with 3:03 to play in the first quarter.

An eight-yard Merita Bruun scamper and pass interference call on fourth down gave Finland momentum, but penalties and a tough USA defense forced Finland to punt as the opening quarter came to a close.

USA came out firing in the second and after Desiree Weimann of the South California Breakers took a screen pass for a 35-yard gain, Schmidt tossed a 16-yard touchdown pass to Sowers for a 19-point advantage after the extra pointer sailed wide. 

USA IN HISTORIC WIN OVER AUSTRIA IN FIRST EVER IFAF WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS!

The United States and Austria made American Football history at the Zinkensdamms IP Stadium in Stockholm when they kicked off the first-ever IFAF Women's World Championship at 1pm local time on Sunday, June 27. 

The Americans cruised to a 63-0 victory as Boston Militia running back Mia Brickhouse rushed for two touchdowns and the US defense stifled the Austrian attack, which showed glimmers of promise through team MVP running back Marie-Theres Michelitsch, who rished for 71 yards. 

"I'm pleased with the win of course," said Team USA head coach John Konecki.  "We tried to stay balanced with our running and passing game and took what the defense gave us.  We came out slowly, but soon found our rhythm."

 New York Sharks wide receiver Adrienne Smith scored the first historic points in IFAF Women's World Championship history with a 52-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Sami Grasafe of the Chicago Force. Team USA MVP Rusty Sowers then reeled in a five-yard touchdown pass as to establish an early 13-point lead, but Saskia Stribrny of the Raiffeisen Lady Vikings blocked the extra point attempt.

Donna is excited and proud to announce that she has been selected as one of 45 players named to represent our country in the first International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Women’s World Championship in Stockholm, Sweden, this summer as a member of USA Football Women's National Team.

The 2010 IFAF Women's World Championship will kick off on Sunday, June 27 when USA Football's top-seeded Women's National Team takes on Austria and host Sweden faces No. 2-seed Canada. Austria will be in action again on Tuesday, June 29 against Finland, along with Sweden against Germany.

Games featuring Canada vs. Germany and the United States vs. Finland on Thursday, July 1, will complete the group play. The top teams in each group will meet in the IFAF Women's World Championship Gold Medal Game on Saturday, July 3 following the Bronze Medal and fifth-placed games.

Follow Donna and the historic World Games at www.DonnaWilkinsonTeamUSA.blogspot.com. 

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