FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2023
Passion Open Up 2023 Season With 41-15 Victory Over D.C.
In the season opener for 2023, the Passion started quickly with the defense forcing a punt on D.C.’s first drive. That was followed by the offense driving the ball down the field and Marcelina Chavez finding Amanda Haeg, in her first game back in the black and gold, for an 8-yard touchdown pass. After D.C. tied the game at 7 midway through the 2nd quarter, the Passion offense answered quickly before the half as Chavez found Ellie Mularski in the endzone for the 18-yard touchdown pass and went into the locker room at halftime leading 14-7.
Similar to the start of the game, the Passion receivers were on fire and drove the ball down the field on their first drive of the second half and extended their lead on a 10-yard run by Maria Fautali. That was followed by back to back touchdown runs by Chavez, 2 yards and 1 yard respectively. After D.C. scored early in the 4th Quarter, the Passion answered right back on a 2- yard run by Brandy Polinick to close out the scoring on the night.
The offense was clicking all night as Marcelina Chavez led the way going 11/15 for 200 yards and 2 touchdowns through the air, as well as adding 58 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns on the ground. Maria Fautali ran for 128 yards on 15 carries. For the receivers, Ellie Mularski had 6 receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown, Amanda Haeg had 2 receptions for 22 yards and a touchdown and Jana Meister added 73 yards on 5 receptions.
The defense did not give the D.C. Divas anything Saturday night as they dominated the line of scrimmage and in the secondary. The front 8 of Kaitlain Niedermeyer, Kim Zubovic, Chelsea Biggers, Erica Moore, Sissy George, Hannah Daman, Kaitlyn Polenik, and Maddie Miller held the D.C. running game in check and the secondary of Samantha Roberts, Rebecca Ehrgood, Jas Jones, Ashley DiCicco, Lawanda Pearson, and Ellie Mularski did not let the D.C receivers find any open space for Divas’ Quarterback Amanda Congialdi to throw to.
It was a great season-opening night for the Passion who now have a weekend off next week before the Home Opener on May 6 against the Tampa Bay Inferno. For more information on the Pittsburgh Passion, you can go to www.pittsburghpassion.com, Like us on Facebook at Pittsburgh Passion and Follow us on Twitter (@pghpassionFB).
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