Spain sit on top of the IFAF Women’s European Championships standings as the continent’s only unbeaten team after a close-fought 8-6 home win over Germany at the San Iñigo Football Field in Calatayud.
MVP wide receiver Olga Sotillo – who only last weekend starred in helping Spain to a silver medal at the IFAF European Flag football Championship – caught the decisive two-point conversion pass from Victoria Valverde, which proved to be the difference between the teams.
Germany might have opened an early lead after Anna Kronenburg had sacked Valverde ten yards from the end zone and a punt to the 25-yard mark earned the visitors great field position, but they were unable to capitalize.
The second quarter featured all the points scoring and Germany did go ahead 6-0 through a five-yard touchdown pass to Dana Huber, but the two-point conversion pass was dropped. They were the first points Spain have conceded in six quarters of play in the competition.
Spain hit back immediately and a spectacular run after the catch by Sotillo, avoiding several tackles as she broke downfield, took the ball down to the German seven-yard line. From there Valverde found Sotillo in the end zone to level the score and the pair connected again on a two-point pass that proved to be the difference between the teams.
When Germany threatened to spoil the home crowd’s enjoyment in the fourth quarter, safety Elisabeth Collado came up with a crucial interception of quarterback Mona Stevens.
Having now won in Finland and at home to Germany, Spain (2-0) head the standings at the midway point in the tournament, with the remaining round robin games to be played in 2024. Spain host Great Britain in April and travel to Sweden in May, knowing that they control the fate of the European crown.
Germany are tied with defending champions Finland and Great Britain with a 1-1 record, while winless Sweden, who lost 10-0 to the Finns earlier on Saturday, sit at 0-2.
IFAF Women’s European Championships 2023/24 Saturday, April 15 Great Britain 40 Sweden 0 Worcester, England Sixways Stadium
Saturday, May 27 Finland 0 Spain 12 Vantaa, Finland Myyrmäen jalkapallostadion
Sunday, May 28 Germany 23 Great Britain 22 Düsseldorf, Germany Solingen Walder Stadium
Saturday, August 26, 1pm Sweden 0 Finland 10 Solna, Sweden Bergshamra IP
Saturday, August 26, 6pm Spain 8 Germany 6 Calatayud, Spain San Iñigo Football Field
12-14 April 2024 Spain vs Great Britain
24-26 May 2024 Finland vs Germany Sweden vs Spain
16-18 August 2024 Germany vs Sweden Great Britain vs Finland
Photo: Lea Wohlfahrt
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