2018 WPL nationals (PC: Jackie Finlan)
Twin Cities is a Women’s Premier League (WPL) founding member, and up until this year it was the only team that had the same head coach – Roger Bruggemeyer – throughout the entirety of the league’s existence. Bruggemeyer actually coached the Amazons for more than 30 years, and his retirement brought on an adjustment period, even if the coaching staff includes familiar faces.
New head coach Rebecca Radtke and assistant coach Lynelle Kugler are Amazons alumnae, so there is familiarity with Twin Cities as a whole. But Radtke has spent the previous five years as head coach for the University of Minnesota women’s team, and there wasn’t a lot of contact with the senior club.
“I wasn’t totally familiar with the squad. I took a hard step back from the WPL, and being at the collegiate level for five years, it’s not like I could see a lot of Amazons games,” Radtke said.
But that’s not to say that Radtke didn’t envision a reunion.
“Yes, I did, and I thought taking the university [coaching] job would be a good step toward that,” Radtke said of whether there were plans to one day coach the Amazons. “But it happened sooner than I thought to be completely honest. It was always the end goal, though.”
The Amazons have an extensive coaching staff, and Bruggemeyer is still active in a support role. His involvement helps with connection and a sense of familiarity.
2018 WPL nationals (PC: Jackie Finlan)
“Every year our team is changing, but luckily we have a lot returning players, including Ali Gillberg, Katana Howard and Katie Johnson that make their presence known on the field and help bridge the gap between the experienced players and new players,” Twin Cities captain Rachel Lentsch explained. “We have new players from the University of Minnesota that luckily have been coached by Rebecca Radtke before coming to the Zons, which makes it an easier transition for them. We’ve also gained a new player from Chicago, Chip O’Dell, who we are excited to have, as she’s both a hard hitter and hard runner.”
Radtke wasn’t looking to change anything up, just little tweaks to the pattern and starting lineups. It was more about interacting with the team, shaking loose any complacency that might have set in in regard to expectations, and to cultivate more self awareness. Lentsch noted that new coach “brings an intensity and passion to the table that we would be hard pressed to match.”
An adjustment period was evident in the season-opener against Chicago North Shore, which was new to the East Conference after Life West joined the West for the 2019 season. A flat start and delayed comeback resulted in a 31-10 loss at home.
“No change really; it’s generally the same,” Radtke said of whether the level of play has changed since the former scrumhalf played in the WPL. “Coaches are getting way more creative in terms of game plans and patterns and trying to set teams up for those big successes. But the physicality, fitness, strength – it’s all where it was a few years ago.”
“Physicality” was a key word for Week 2, when Twin Cities traveled to Beantown. Both Radtke and Beantown coach Tadgh Leader noted how the Amazons dictated the contact area, and that greatly influenced the Minnesota side’s 22-12 win.
2018 WPL nationals (PC: Jackie Finlan)
However, that momentum didn’t translate into a win in Week 3, as opponent Atlanta traveled to Minnesota with 17 players and produced a 45-22 win. It was a high point for the Harlequins, which had no forward subs and pulled away in the second half, but drew uncertainty about Twin Cities.
Sunday was an important match. Not only was USA 15s head coach Rob Cain in town running training sessions and taking in the Week 4 game live, but a win against New York would be valuable morale wise heading into the break.
“The team did a good job communicating today,” Radtke said of Sunday. “Some players were out of position and we had some new starters in the lineup today. We switched up the lineup quite a bit, so they did an amazing job communicating.”
In the middle of it all was Lentsch, who is the vocal leader and main decision-maker. She did a great job organizing the forwards on defense and launching the offense with spot-on passes.
“Maria [Bowker], it was her first time starting at six for us this season,” Radtke said of standouts. “Prior to this she was going through military training. She had a really strong game, and then we moved her to 12 because she used to play there for us a few years ago, and because our 13 went out with a concussion. So I thought she had an amazing game.
“Katana Howard, our flyhalf, was hands-down the defensive and offensive leader. She had some amazing tackles and led the charge, especially defensively,” the coach continued. “In the loose forwards, having KJ [Katie Johnson] at the 8 position and healthy, she leads the charge when it comes to the loose forwards playing as one cohesive unit.”
Fullback Kaelene Lundstrum scored three minutes into the match, and right before the break O’Dell scored her first try as an Amazon while WPL first-year Danica Mooney-Jones added a conversion. New York No. 8 Chloe Jex split those scores and the home side took a 12-5 lead into the break.
Twin Cities pulled away in the second half.
“The team did a really good job at improvising – playing what was in front of them and turning loose ball into playable ball,” Radtke said.
New York was able to put down 15 second-half points but it was always chasing the Amazons. Howard, Lentsch, Sarah Roche, Kelsey Coley and Shaena Sparrow scored tries, while Mooney-Jones added another conversion for the 39-20 win.
“Everyone had a strong outing,” Radtke said. “I wouldn’t say there’s a boost in confidence [after the win], but that they’re understanding each other more and that they’re stronger together than separately.”
Twin Cities will finish out September with home games against Chicago North Shore and Beantown, and then end the regular season with road trips to Atlanta and New York. The WPL National Championship is in Glendale, Colo., this year.