LYNN — English powderpuff coach PJ Holey and his players don’t have to be reminded how long it’s been since they’ve defeated crosstown rival Classical. The Rams have won their last three clashes against the Bulldogs. Holey and his Bulldogs have a chance to change that trend Sunday afternoon (12) when the two teams meet at Manning Field.
He feels this year’s group has what it takes to bring a win back to Goodridge Street.
“That was the first thing I told the team in practice. We want to have fun out there but we came to be competitive and have a chance to win,” Holey, in his second year as head coach of the Bulldogs, said. “They have to show up every day, work hard and understand the offense. Classical takes the powderpuff game very seriously. We have to show the effort in practice so we can get the job done during game time.”
Holey, the assistant athletic director at English, said numbers are down compared to years past but that hasn’t hindered English’s progress.
“We have a little bit of a smaller group this year but we have a good 35 girls committed,” Holey said. “They’ve been out there working every day, doing what they need to do. I have a couple girls that have been committed right from the get-go.”
The two main focuses in practice have been grasping the offense and defense while developing an effective system of communication. Holey feels his team’s at its best when English communicates and each player’s on the same page.
“We’re working on being consistent with our base offensive plays,” Holey said. “We learned last year that you make mistakes when you’re trying to do too much. The girls picked that up right away in practice this year. We’re working on consistency, making sure everyone’s on the same page. The biggest thing is communication. Even on offense sometimes we’ll be out there and one girl doesn’t know the play. Communication’s the biggest thing with these girls.
“I think we’re a stronger team defensively than we were last year,” Holey continued. “They communicate better than I anticipated. That might be because we have a smaller group but at the same time they communicate a little better than I anticipated coming into the season.”
Key players for the Bulldogs include Keyanni Darling, Vanessa Paul, Juliana Gabelus, Pam Rosales, Armania Boyd, Milena Biondi, Crystal Shagoury and Kaylee Smith-Whelton.
Holey, who was an assistant coach before taking over the head coach role, said he enjoys his involvement with the annual powderpuff game.
“I’m excited that we can continue the tradition,” Holey said. “Everyone loves it. The girls enjoy it, the faculty enjoys it. It’s a great tradition. It’s something I enjoyed before I started coaching it. It should be fun.”
