Courageous Rollergirls win a thriller over Steel City Demons, ending ‘09 campaign
Photo by Arianna Hoffmann
ED. NOTE: See additional photos by Arianna Hoffmann here.
The most exciting sports event involving a Triangle team this weekend? Without a doubt, it was our Carolina Rollergirls winning a come-from-behind thriller Saturday night over the Steel City Derby Demons, 144-143, before 1,400 ecstatic fans at Raleigh’s Dorton Arena.
The ‘girls grabbed their first lead since early in the bout literally in the last second of action after they’d trailed by 28 with just four minutes to play. Holly Wanna Crackya (pictured at right) was the Rollergirls’ heroine, racing to a huge plus-20 from her jammer position to cut the lead to eight with 2:15 remaining. After Princess America sliced the eight points to four with a winning — and swift — jam of her own, Crackya returned for what proved to be the final jam. She blasted through to the decisive plus-5 as the game clock expired, then threw her hands in the air in triumph as the Demons watched helplessly.
For the Rollergirls, this seems like it was a critical victory in a couple of ways. First, it should mean that they hold onto their 5th place ranking in the East division of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association. Steel City (Pittsburgh) came in ranked 7th but clearly looking to move up after winning two of their three games at the recent Eastern Regionals in Raleigh, where their one loss was to the regional champions, the Philly Rollergirls.
As important, even with the veteran (and my favorite derby name) Celia Fate on the bench nursing a strep-throat illness, Carolina was able to overcame a Steel City team that jumped on them early (26-0) and then, after halftime, jumped on them again. Continue reading »
