Mahopac’s TNT Explodes for First Victory in Women’s Flag Football League

The TNT Women’s Flag Football team started their season at 0-2, and the Gridiron Goddesses stood in the way of the Mahopac based team's first win on Thursday, July 13. At Somers High School, TNT lit the fuse and didn’t wait long to explode.

On the first play from scrimmage, Kelli Conlan burst through the line, cut to the sideline and ran the length of the field. The touchdown sparked a 32-18 victory that had captain Tiffany Ziegelhofer looking to even more success. “We now have momentum, and we’re going to continue improving,” she said.

Even so, the Goddesses refused to implode. On third down, Elizabeth McGoldrick threw down field, and after the defense tipped the ball, Junie Carattini picked the deflection out of the air. Bringing the leather in, she took off and didn’t stop until passing the goal line.

A 6-6 game, TNT briefly held Conlan in reserve. On third down this time, she took the hand off and went on the turn again. “I saw it was a little overloaded on the right. So I cut back to the left,” said the all purpose back, and the ladies had a 13-6 after she pulled in the conversation from Quarterback Tammy Wanner.

The Goddesses still weren’t capitulating, though. On second down from deep in their own zone, Kelly Pirone bumped outside to midfield and then McGoldrick took care of business herself. She dropped back, paused the defense and took off running. She got to the sideline and scampered to the end zone for a 13-12 game.

Undeterred, TNT was right back up the field. Vicki Mazzella switched directions this time on handoff and the sleight of hand with her feet put the powder keg 15 yards away.

So it was now TNT’s turn to win the tip drill. “I saw the defender coming. She got a hand on the ball, I grabbed it and kept running,” said Kristen DiCerbo.

The lead grew to 20-12 when DiCerbo came down with Wanner’s loft on the conversion and halftime had the Mahopac team feeling pretty good. They felt even better when Conlan got back into the act out of intermission.

The player of the game stepped in front of McGoldrick’s pass over the middle, and in making for the pick six, the sideline was in awe. “She’s a star, she’s an athlete, and she’s not afraid of it,” said Debra Ielpi.

But the Goddesses did have one last gasp. On third down, Pirone again got outside to midfield and a switch at QB did the rest. Christine Bueti hit Elana Shneyer to get in range, and then Bueti ran the ball into the end zone on the quarterback sneak.

No surprise, the drama did not last, and Conlan brought down the curtain. Cutting in and out, the runner was a blur, and the 32-18 margin put the game out of reach.

At the same time, the Goddesses weren’t the only one’s left double taking. “I want to be her when I grow up,” joked Mazzella.

Of course, the final score doesn’t determine what happens after. “Usually we hang out and have a couple of drinks,” said Melissa Zeiler. “Then we go back home and mom it.”

Jackie Catania, on the other hand, sees the participation of all the players as motherhood in its best form. “I am the mother of three girls. For them to see us compete and stay active is important. It shows them just because we’ve gotten older, we don’t stop playing.”

In turn, the kids have received the message, and applied the old adage that age doesn’t matter. “Now, many of the daughters our playing in the youth league,” said Catania.

So their mom’s example laying a foundation, Flag Football in Mahopac is here to stay.

TNT is sponsored by Summer Trails. They are coaches by Gary Ziegelhofer and Matthew Wanner and the roster is rounded out by Patricia Holguin, Leigh-Anne Iannuzzo, Patty O'Halloran and Sandy Parent.

More Somers Yellow Photos