The Machine traveled to Missouri for their last road trip of the regular season to take on the Missouri Phoenix. The teams first met in early May, with the Machine efficiently disassembling the Phoenix 58-0. Minnesota was seeking a similar outcome this time around to push their record over the .500 mark for the first time this season.

 

Minnesota had the first scoring chance of the game as they drove the ball deep into Missouri territory in the first quarter. But a botched exchange between quarterback Kim Miller and running back Yolanda Fason resulted in a fumble recovered by the Phoenix, thwarting the opportunity.

 

Unfazed by the turnover, the Machine defense didn't allow an inch and pinned the Phoenix deep in their side of the field. A short Missouri punt gave Minnesota great field position. This time around, the Machine didn't miss their opportunity. Minnesota used a punishing rushing attack to get on the board first, capped off by a nifty TD run by Fason. A high snap on the extra point kept the score at 6-0.

 

After a quick three-and-out forced my Minnesota's relentless defense, Minnesota got the ball back at their 40. The teams exchanged scrimmage penalties to start the drive, but the action picked up again when Fason broke a long run down to the Missouri 20. Three rushing plays later, Minnesota found the endzone again. Maggie Alt scored on a 5-yard run, and Danielle Thompson tacked on the extra point to make it 13-0 early in the second quarter.

 

On the ensuing drive, Minnesota pinned Missouri deep yet again and forced a punt. Abby Krause took the return all the way to the 5 of the Phoenix before being shoved out of bounds. Minnesota took exactly one play to post their third score of the game. The offensive line created a gaping hole for Fason as she trotted in for her second touchdown and a 20-0 Minnesota lead.

 

Missouri finally found Minnesota's end of the field on the next drive thanks to a long pass play that put Phoenix in the red zone. But a sack by Lisa Olson and Rachel Lee combined with a penalty pushed Missouri back, and Thompson slammed the door with an interception to get the ball back to Minnesota with the scoreboard unscathed.

 

A couple of nice runs by Fason and Alt got the Machine back on the good side of midfield on the following drive. Then Miller hit Krause with a short pass, and Abby did the rest—a 40 yard touchdown reception. The rout was on; Krause's TD moved it to 27-0 still in the first half.

 

The Phoenix were down but they definitely didn't roll over despite the large deficit. On the first play of their next drive, they connected on another long pass that once again put them deep in Minnesota territory. Miller looked as though she put a stop to the drive by picking off a Missouri pass and taking it back 94 yards for a touchdown, but the play was negated due to a penalty on the Machine. However, Missouri couldn't capitalize on their second chance. The Machine defense came up big to stop the Phoenix on fourth down and get the ball back.

 

Since it was late in the first half and Minnesota was on their own 11 yard line, one might think Machine coach Dann Lickness would just run out the clock and get to the locker room.

 

Not when you have Abby Krause.

 

Krause took another short pass from Miller and jetted down the field 89 yards to pay dirt. Halftime score: 34-0 Minnesota.

 

Minnesota got the ball to start the second half, and they made quick work of the Phoenix defense to score another touchdown. It took just 5 straight rushing plays for the Machine to increase their lead to 41-0. Fason completed her hat trick of touchdowns on a nice goal line misdirection play.

On Missouri's first possession of the second half, Sarah Bishop went up high and made a great interception of a Phoenix pass. She returned it to the house, but the touchdown didn't stand because of a Minnesota penalty. The Phoenix stopped Minnesota's next drive after the pick, but once again the Machine defense hounded Missouri into a three-and-out and a punt. Krause took the kick around midfield, changed fields near the 40, and then weaved through five would-be tacklers en route to an amazing punt return touchdown. Thompson added the extra point to make it 48-0.

 

Missouri still couldn't muster any offense against the Machine on their ensuing possession and they were forced to punt it away. After another solid punt return from Krause, the Machine shredded through Missouri's defense again with their forceful running game. It was Alt's turn to find the endzone this time around on a 4-yard dive play. Her second touchdown of the day made it 55-0 in the fourth quarter.

 

In Minnesota's three previous wins before this game, they allowed a grand total of zero points.

 

The story wouldn't be any different in their fourth win.

 

After the Phoenix went nowhere on their final drive late in the fourth quarter, they tried to punt away from Krause. It didn't quite work. The punt bounced down the side of the field instead of out of bounds, and Krause picked it up at the Machine 40. You can probably guess what happened after that—Krause darted through Missouri's special teams for her second punt return touchdown of the game and fourth touchdown overall. Another bad snap prevented the extra point from going through, but the damage had definitely already been done. The Machine left Missouri with a well-earned 61-0 blowout victory.

 

The Machine (4-3) will look to extend their winning streak to three games as they conclude their regular season on Saturday, June 27. Minnesota will take on the Kansas City Storm, a team they beat 58-0 in Kansas City earlier in the season. The game is at 7:00 PM at Woodbury High School.