Looking for ‘little wins,’ Eden Prairie girls flag football finds a big one

Late last month, as dozens of flag football players warmed up inside Eden Prairie High School’s Prairie Dome on opening day of the inaugural Minnesota girls flag football season, Eden Prairie head coach JD Dixon and assistant coach Allie Happel gathered their team.

They didn’t tell their players, who had never played the sport competitively, to look at the big picture. They told them to think small.

“If you get a first down – celebrate,” Happel said, as she listed ways for the players to take pride in their little accomplishments during a game.

First-week nerves

In the first game in team history, the Eagles took on the Minnetonka Skippers. Senior Natalee Shoemaker took a handoff from freshman quarterback Tina Do and rushed to the right for the first play in team history. Later in the first half, sophomore Maleah Holloway ran for the first touchdown in Eagles history. Minnetonka went on to win 32-12.

The regular season consists of four Sundays of doubleheaders. In game two of Week 1, Eden Prairie was shut out 38-0 by Bloomington, a co-op team between Kennedy and Jefferson, the city’s two public high schools.

Despite not getting a win in Week 1, Happel said the team saw positive signs on which it could build.

“One thing we’re trying to focus on is (to) celebrate the little wins,” Happel said. “We were able to have successful drives. (The) first game we scored a couple touchdowns. Defense had a few stops.”

Happel said that the players had a mix of emotions prior to the start of the groundbreaking week.

“The girls were super excited. Obviously, I think there were some nerves there,” she said. “First time playing this sport in an organized manner, so there’s a little bit of nerves, but a lot of excitement.”

A big victory

After their first two games on April 27 in the familiar confines of the Prairie Dome, the Eagles traveled to Minnetonka High School for their Week 2 doubleheader.

It was there that the Eagles took their “celebrate little wins” mentality, and did something big, getting the first win in team history by shutting out Hopkins 33-0.

“Getting the first win in program history was beyond exciting and to do it like that and have so many girls get touches and contribute was so fun to watch,” Happel said.

Three players – all freshmen – had interceptions in the shutout of Hopkins, with Lila Lockart getting the first in team history. Helena Olson returned hers for a touchdown, and Ruth Sanchez had one as well.

Junior quarterback Jilary Sanchez had three touchdowns in the game.

“Getting that win I think really motivated the girls to keep putting in the work and to stay disciplined,” Happel said.

Room to grow

The Eagles, who lost to Minnetonka 33-7 in Week 2’s second game, know they have to keep improving and stay sharp as they enter the last four games of the regular season. They are a very young team, with just one senior, one junior and two sophomores. The rest of the roster is freshmen.

“I still believe in these girls. It’s still new,” Dixon said after the Week 1 defeats. 

“We’re starting from infancy,” she added of the challenges her team faced, with everyone playing a new sport and many not being athletes in other sports.

The coaches saw some of the growth they were looking for in Week 2 and will look to their players to improve even more in Week 3.

“I loved how disciplined each player was in their role and responsibilities, but also their level of aggression and fire going into the game,” Happel said.

Looking ahead

The Eagles will play their Week 3 games on May 11 at Lakeville North High School, and then finish the regular season back home on May 18. Each day will feature games at 4 and 5 p.m.