Riot outlasts Valkyries to clinch first in WWCFL’s Mosaic Stadium debut
REGINA 21, SASKATOON 16
The Regina Riot and Saskatoon Valkyries both celebrated a first — the Western Women’s Canadian Football League’s debut at new Mosaic Stadium — on Sunday.
But another first, namely top spot in the WWCFL’s Prairie Conference, belonged to the Riot after its 21-16 victory.
The win gave Regina a 4-0 record (with one victory coming by default) and a sweep of the two-game season series between the provincial rivals. Saskatoon finished the regular season at 2-2.
Although the new stadium opened in 2017, the Riot played last season’s home games at Taylor Field. Demolition of the old facility began in the fall.
Regina capped the 2017 season by winning its second WWCFL title. Saskatoon has won the other five titles since the league’s inception in 2011.
On Sunday, the Riot’s Aimee Kowalski displayed her championship form of 2015 and 2017 by throwing two touchdown passes to her sister, Alex. Rachelle Smith added a 78-yard touchdown run for Regina. The Riot’s Carmen Agar rushed for 71 yards.
Saskatoon scored on a touchdown run by Sarah Wright (who rushed for 119 yards) and a pass from Alex Eyolfson to Olivia Woo.
Wright scored with 2:27 remaining in the fourth quarter. Trailing by five, the Valkyries then recovered an onside kick, only to turn over the ball on downs. An interception by Katheryn Neigum with 17 seconds left ended Saskatoon’s last-gasp possession.
The WWCFL playoffs are to begin next weekend. The league’s championship game is set for June 24 in Regina.