Pacific Cup Represents First Interleague Matchup in History of LFL

By Mark Staffieri
In a battle that promises to carry with it much intensity, the Lingerie Football League is featuring a match unlike any in its history. The Seattle Mist of LFL US shall battle the BC Angels of LFL Canada in an interleague match at the ShoWare Center in Kent, Wash. Known as the Pacific Cup, this border battle raises the stakes for the BC Angels as they are the 2012 Lingerie Bowl Canada champions.
Seattle Mist fans were given the 8th Man Award, given to the best fans in LFL US. With the match being contested in Seattle, there is no question that the home field advantage is a big factor. One advantage for the Angels is that they come into the game with a lot of momentum. Having last played November 18 (the date of Lingerie Bowl Canada), the Angels should be game ready. During the LFL Canada regular season, BC did not win a road game. The key for BC is to maintain their composure should they turnover the ball in the first quarter.
In looking at BC’s strength, there is no question that their running game is superlative. Angels running back Stephanie Manou (the LFL Canada rushing champion) is not just a franchise player, but she is the one Canadian that could be a superstar in LFL US. If she can grind out 60 yards in this contest, BC has a phenomenal chance of claiming their first road win of 2012.
During the Angels 2012 season, two players from the Seattle Mist, Jessica Hopkins and Christine Moore, were US imports that were part of the roster. Every squad in LFL Canada (BC, Regina, Saskatoon and Toronto) featured several US imports, as LFL US did not have any games scheduled during the Canadian season. Considering that Hopkins and Moore were key contributors to the Angels’ Lingerie Bowl Canada title, the Angels will have to find a way to win without them.
Jessica Hopkins, the 2011-12 LFL US Mortaza Award winner, had a tremendous influence on the Angels. She led all players in LFL Canada with 27 tackles, while serving as a mentor to Katie Marshall, the winner of the LFL Canada Defensive Player of the Year Award. Ironically, Marshall would also claim the LFL Canada Mortaza Award.
Student will now play against the teacher as Marshall is lining up against Hopkins. With LFL minicamps under way in the US, Hopkins and Moore will be playing for the Seattle Mist in the Pacific Cup. Seattle finished with a .500 record during the 2011-12 LFL US season. With the contributions that Hopkins and Moore made with the Angels, the franchise is very confident that in 2013, the club will accomplish their postseason aspirations.
Marshall emerged as the LFL Canada sack champion, while providing 23 tackles. Although Seattle has a punishing defense, BC also comes with other weapons on its defense. Former Rugby Canada member Stevi Schnoor is perfect for the LFL Canada game, while Ashley Hamer-Jackson and Darnelle Bernemann are both heavy hitters.
While the Mist and the Angels have never played each other, the key to winning the match will be which team makes the fewest mistakes. While Hopkins and Moore have familiarity with the Angels and their style of play, many of the Mist players have not competed for several months. The team that commits the most turnovers will likely be the team that loses the inaugural Pacific Cup.
In what promises to be an annual event, the Mist and the Angels may develop one of the most intense and visceral rivalries in the LFL. Emotions shall run high as friendships were forged on the Angels roster with Hopkins and Moore. The possibility remains strong that the Pacific Cup may turn out to be as prized a holiday football event as any of the New Year’s Day Bowl games.