|
Shared Dynasties: Lady Godiva and the Maine-iacs Trade Talent
1992 Nationals was rematch time in the Club Women’s Division. There were only four teams capable of making the finals and one of them, Satori, was perpetually cursed. This time they lost a heartbreaker to Godiva in semifinals, 19-17. In the other semifinal, the Maine-iacs, who had won their games by an average of 12 points, defeated the Los Angeles/San Diego team, Block Party, 19-11. The rematch everyone knew was coming was set.
The Maine-iacs dynasty had no designs on letting 1992 slip away. Peg Hollinger and Sarah Savage stayed the course and kept the team focused. Seven goals thrown from “Uncle” Anni Kreml—at the time, the women’s world record holder for distance—in the second half didn’t hurt. The Bay Area women avenged 1991 with a 19-15 win over Lady Godiva for their second championship.
“1992 was one of the better women’s finals ever played,” said Beck. “[Godiva] played a similar offense as 1991 by sending Glo deep. They were really aggressive and our zone didn’t work because there was no wind. We had to match up with them.”
The following year saw a big change: Between the 1992 and 1993 seasons, the best player in the women’s game moved from Boston to San Francisco and the best strategist in the league moved from San Francisco to Boston.
Hollinger ended up moving with her husband, Scott, to Boston in late 1992. Initially rejected by Godiva, the team came to accept her and her strategic mind for the 1993 season. Glo’s job moved her to San Francisco in late summer 1993 and she quickly found a team willing to use her on the field: Her old rival the Maine-iacs.
“Gloria was a tough opponent to have to play against—she intimidated the hell out of me!” said Kreml. “She’s great to have on your team, though.”
The trade-off didn’t hurt the Maine-iacs. Hollinger’s system was firmly in place and a star athlete like Glo could play anywhere on the field. 1993 saw the emergence of Molly Goodwin as a superstar on the club circuit for the Maine-iacs. Tall, athletic and fierce, Goodwin was a game-maker. Her layout blocks became legendary and her demeanor backed her up. “I’m a super-competitive person,” Goodwin said at the time. “I need the competitive outlet in my life.”
After winning 1993 Worlds, the Maine-iacs cruised through Nationals again to meet Godiva in the finals. They won by the same score as 1992, 19-15, holding three and four-goal leads throughout the game. Glo caught seven goals for San Francisco. Tree Vandenburg, a legend from Michigan State and the Lady Condors, had joined the team. They were unstoppable—but they were also finished.
The team disbanded after 1993. Like New York, internal strife had taken its toll. Factions had developed and certain players felt it was time for a change. A remaining core joined forces with friends and family on the Bay Area’s other strong team, the Whirled Peas.
|
