Atlanta took a survival approach to the first three games of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) season. The overlap of 7s and 15s delayed the relocation of several transferring players and also saw the need to rest some bodies that had been active all summer. That meant lighter rosters that were exacerbated by three of the first four games on the road.
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The first game went to Beantown, but then Atlanta won the next three to top the WPL East in the standings halfway through the regular season. The road win against Twin Cities was particularly uplifting, as the team traveled with 17 players, no forward subs, and beat the Amazons by 23 points in Minnesota.
This past weekend signaled a turning point, however, as the majority of the squad is now in place, and Atlanta traveled with a full roster for the first time all season. Several players made their debuts for the Harlequins against Chicago North Shore, although all of them are not new to the WPL.
“This was Shamira Robles’ first match with us and she had very elusive running lines,” Chou called out the New York native, who scored two tries from outside center. “She’s also a great distributor, and a defensive threat. I was really pleased with her debut performance with us. It was also Kelli Smith’s debut as well, and she was able to provide us with an enormous amount of defensive line speed.”
Smith was the first Next Olympic Hopeful winner and since claiming the title in 2017 has resided at Chula Vista and played for APRTC, Beantown and Spain’s Getxo. Read more. Eagle Christiane Pheil also debuted for Atlanta and played against former teammates in the green and gold kit.
Atlanta took a 10-0 lead in the first quarter, as captain Mo Compito and Robles scored tries, and then North Shore built momentum through an Olga Niyibizi try and Nicole Fisch conversion, 10-7. Pressure continued to build and saw Atlanta flanker Gracie Martinez sent off for 10 minutes, and there was opportunity there for the home side. Instead, Atlanta was able to put away Robles for a second try, and Corinne Heavner’s conversion gave the Quins a 17-7 lead into the break.
Slippery conditions produced ballhandling errors that challenged continuity, but Chou was still pleased with the offensive output.
“Bridget Kahele continues to provide us speed of play on attack, and is a ferocious defender from the 9 slot,” Chou noted. “She has continued to improve each game and is someone we can rely on to push the pace.
“Our lineouts have improved a great deal, so I’m really happy with the work that Blake Bradford and Andrew McNeil have been doing with our forward pack,” coach continued. “Karissa Lacy has been so consistent at hooker and having Christiane Pheil sub in gave us a boost defensively in the lineout contesting possession in the air.”
Atlanta lock Lisa Jackson scored near the 60-minute mark – it was the lock’s sixth of the season – and that try afforded the bonus point. That was it for the final 40: Atlanta 22, Chicago North Shore 7.
The Harlequins (3-1) lead the WPL East, and (listed in standings order) New York, Twin Cities, Beantown are 2-2. North Shore, too, isn’t out of it by any means and has banked two bonus points to pump up its 1-3 record.
Atlanta plays three of the four remaining regular-season games at home, and also welcomes back difference-makers like Darian Lovelace and Chi Chi Chudwueke from injury. This upcoming weekend, the Harlequins have the opportunity to address its lone loss so far, as Beantown travels to Georgia for game five.
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