The Good 5 Cent Cigar

Issue date: 10/23/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Teresa Kelly Alexandria Teixeira of Sigma Delta Tau rushes with the ball past opponents of the Beach Whales during Friday's Powder Puff Football match on Friday.

10/23/08 - The intramural fields behind Mackal Field House were home to a spirited football tournament on a brisk and breezy autumn afternoon last Friday. The competitors, ready to do whatever necessary to win, were fierce, focused and female.

The Powder Puff Flag Football Tournament, a Homecoming Week event presented by the Inter-Fraternity Council and the Panhellenic Association, featured 10 teams composed of URI women. Six of those 10 teams represented URI sororities, and one represented the Panhellenic Association.

Although this event has been held before, this was the first time that it was open to all URI students, not just the Greek community.

While the competition was held on Friday, nightfall crept over the fields before the tournament's end, which led to the championship game being moved to Sunday afternoon. On a day that was equally as perfect for football, but in a more traditional spot on the calendar, a champion was finally chosen.

The Sigma Delta Tau Team became Powder Puff champions, triumphing over Team Dynasty, 14-6. This was the second year in a row SDT took the title.

"We're really trying to defend our title," said Brittany Vetrone, an SDT team member, on Friday. Vetrone returned an interception for a touchdown against Chi Omega in the semi-finals.

Chi Omega defeated Delta Zeta and Sigma Kappa before getting its chance to play SDT. Chi Omega's game against Sigma Kappa came down to the wire and was decided by a safety in overtime.

"We have good leadership, a lot of passion and a lot of heart," said Chi Omega junior Danielle Abrams as she was cheering her team on while taking a breather on the sideline.

Overseeing the day was Inter-Fraternity Council President Phil Bowers. Bowers, a senior, could be seen navigating the sidelines armed with a megaphone, trying to keep everything in order.

"I'm really happy with the turnout," Bowers said. "This is a building block and it will get bigger and bigger."

Bowers' attempt to reach out to students outside of the URI Greek Community was answered by Dynasty.

"They have plays, a coach, everything," said Eileen Cruceta, a supporter of Dynasty who was cheering on the sidelines.

However, Dynasty just fell short and SDT was crowned Powder Puff Champion.

The shirts worn by the SDT team members said it all. The words "accept defeat" were on the front for their opponents to read when engaging in battle.

For now, the NFL will have to do for football fans on cold Sundays, as the next Powder Puff Football Tournament is a year away.

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