News
Monsoon season rolls to an exciting climax
June 04, 2009 By Michael J. Craven, Arizona Daily Star
In fifth year, team is 5-2 and poised to make playoffs
When Kristie Godbout became the owner of Tucson's only professional women's football team four years ago, her goal was simple: Provide an opportunity for women in Tucson to play real, full-contact football.
She never dreamed that her newly acquired club, the Tucson Monsoon, would be a playoff-caliber program in just four years.
But seven games into her fourth season as owner (the club has existed for five years), the Monsoon has a 5-2 record and a chance to make the Independent Women's Football League playoffs.
To make that happen, the Monsoon needs to win its June13 game against the visiting Seattle Majestics at Tucson High School. Seattle is a Tier I team with a 6-0 record. Tucson is a Tier II team.
Still, the Monsoon players are confident.
Last week's game against Tier I team Los Angeles was "definitely the biggest game of the year and the biggest game of the franchise," said 36-year-old Godbout, who also plays on the offensive line. The Monsoon lost 57-0.
Here are three reasons why the Monsoon just might surprise 'em and make the playoffs this season for the first time:
1. Savior Smith
The most glaring difference between this season and the ones that preceded it is the addition of head coach Vincent Smith.
Smith played under Dick Tomey at the University of Arizona in the early '90s before a brief stint in the NFL.
For the last three seasons, Smith has been the head coach at Tucson High School, turning that program into a playoff team.
He has provided the structure the Monsoon has needed: a new playbook and a better work ethic.
"He has the experience, so that led everybody to an automatic respect level," star running back Jessica Livigni said.
2. No off-season breaks
The most glaring issue to Smith was conditioning.
"One of the things that we agreed upon was that they had to partake in some off-season conditioning, and that was the only way that I would agree" to coach, Smith said. "I had been out here and seen them get blown out and seen these terrible results, and I said, 'I just can't be a part of that. I can't watch you guys intentionally go out there and set yourselves up, not just for failure, but for danger.' "
Assistant coach Michael Holly sees proof the off-season conditioning program works. "In the third and fourth quarter when other teams are dying, we're still ready to go," Holly said. "Last year we had seven players go down with knee injuries, and this year we just aren't seeing those injuries happen."
3. Young blood
The key to this season's success is the young players.
In only her second year, Livigni averages nearly 200 yards a game on the ground and has scored 14 touchdowns. "It's all just hard-nosed running," Godbout said. "It's amazing; she just runs right through people."
The Monsoon also has a handful of rookies who have made noise this season: Danielle Hurtado, a 21-year old Sunnyside High School grad, immediately made an impact as a wide receiver and then filled in at quarterback when regular starter Jessica Van Apeldoorn was injured.
Rookie linebacker Deanna Grimstead leads the team in sacks, forced fumbles and fumbles recovered.
"Our defense has really kept us in games we could have easily fallen out of," Godbout said, "and Deanna has had a lot to do with that."
When Kristie Godbout became the owner of Tucson's only professional women's football team four years ago, her goal was simple: Provide an opportunity for women in Tucson to play real, full-contact football.
She never dreamed that her newly acquired club, the Tucson Monsoon, would be a playoff-caliber program in just four years.
But seven games into her fourth season as owner (the club has existed for five years), the Monsoon has a 5-2 record and a chance to make the Independent Women's Football League playoffs.
To make that happen, the Monsoon needs to win its June13 game against the visiting Seattle Majestics at Tucson High School. Seattle is a Tier I team with a 6-0 record. Tucson is a Tier II team.
Still, the Monsoon players are confident.
Last week's game against Tier I team Los Angeles was "definitely the biggest game of the year and the biggest game of the franchise," said 36-year-old Godbout, who also plays on the offensive line. The Monsoon lost 57-0.
Here are three reasons why the Monsoon just might surprise 'em and make the playoffs this season for the first time:
1. Savior Smith
The most glaring difference between this season and the ones that preceded it is the addition of head coach Vincent Smith.
Smith played under Dick Tomey at the University of Arizona in the early '90s before a brief stint in the NFL.
For the last three seasons, Smith has been the head coach at Tucson High School, turning that program into a playoff team.
He has provided the structure the Monsoon has needed: a new playbook and a better work ethic.
"He has the experience, so that led everybody to an automatic respect level," star running back Jessica Livigni said.
2. No off-season breaks
The most glaring issue to Smith was conditioning.
"One of the things that we agreed upon was that they had to partake in some off-season conditioning, and that was the only way that I would agree" to coach, Smith said. "I had been out here and seen them get blown out and seen these terrible results, and I said, 'I just can't be a part of that. I can't watch you guys intentionally go out there and set yourselves up, not just for failure, but for danger.' "
Assistant coach Michael Holly sees proof the off-season conditioning program works. "In the third and fourth quarter when other teams are dying, we're still ready to go," Holly said. "Last year we had seven players go down with knee injuries, and this year we just aren't seeing those injuries happen."
3. Young blood
The key to this season's success is the young players.
In only her second year, Livigni averages nearly 200 yards a game on the ground and has scored 14 touchdowns. "It's all just hard-nosed running," Godbout said. "It's amazing; she just runs right through people."
The Monsoon also has a handful of rookies who have made noise this season: Danielle Hurtado, a 21-year old Sunnyside High School grad, immediately made an impact as a wide receiver and then filled in at quarterback when regular starter Jessica Van Apeldoorn was injured.
Rookie linebacker Deanna Grimstead leads the team in sacks, forced fumbles and fumbles recovered.
"Our defense has really kept us in games we could have easily fallen out of," Godbout said, "and Deanna has had a lot to do with that."
