By Larry Snyder

California, PA – All pistons were firing in the engine of the Pittsburgh Passion offense Saturday, May 4, as they took down the unbeaten Baltimore Nighthawks 34-0 at Adamson Stadium, part of California University of Pennsylvania.

Pittsburgh head coach Teresa Conn’s defense raised the bar as they delivered the 49th shutout in team history. The Women of Steel (3-1) has kept the opposition off the scoreboard for eight consecutive quarters this season in the Women’s Football Alliance. The last team to put the ball in the end zone was the DC Divas on Saturday, April 13 at 8:45 in the fourth quarter.

Followers of the Black and Gold know Adamson Stadium has been important to the program. Back in 2016, they downed the Keystone Assault 56-6 on Saturday, May 7, 2016, for their 100th team victory. This past Saturday was also special as the Passion reached out to the community with their Breast Cancer Awareness night.

Let’s review who the four essential players were that allowed Pittsburgh to put up 34 points in the first half and keep Baltimore (3-1) off the score sheet. It was the Passion’s second straight win and their third triumph overall this spring.

1) Angela Baker took the playbook and made it her own as she passed for 165 yards and four touchdowns. The Slippery Rock University alumna has the aerial attack humming as she owns 11 touchdown passes in just four matchups.

2) Third-year defensive back Tenisha Spencer borrowed an item from Sydney Crosby’s arsenal as she put up a hat-trick with three interceptions against Baltimore.

3) Krystal Cozzo, who is in her 11th year, continues to build on her All-Star season. The 5-7 wide receiver from West Allegheny High School hauled in a 15-yard and a 10-yard scoring strike from Baker. She has six receiving touchdowns in four matchups.

4) Rebecca Ehrgood, who is in her fourth season at defensive back, claimed an interception against Baltimore and helped to preserve the shutout in the final minute by knocking away a desperation pass in the endzone.

Offense Honorable Mentions: Second-year running back Arielle Smith rushed for 48 yards and her first touchdown in 2019. Ellie Mularski got the assault of the box score started when she collected her fourth touchdown this season on a 15-yard toss from Baker in the first.

Defense Honorable Mentions: Kaitlain Niedermeyer and Hannah Daman stood tall on the defense from their lineman and linebacker positions respectively. The duo frustrated the Nighthawks’ offense by adding a combined 16 tackles, four of which were for a loss. Diamond Rodriguez, Julie Ionta, Ashley DiCicco, Kellie Bell, Amanda Coles, and Lizz Costanzo all contributed to the shutout.

My Play of the Game came on Pittsburgh’s final possession to close out the first half. Offensive Coordinator Lisa Horton called the reliable Hook and Ladder. Baker hit Jana Meister with a 13-yard pass who tossed it back to Devon Conner, and she took it 26 yards for her first career touchdown.

Next Up: Pittsburgh travels to the Buckeye State for a rematch with the Cleveland Fusion (2-2) Saturday, May 11 At Maple Heights High School. The turnpike rivals come together at 7:00 p.m. The Black and Gold downed the Brown, Orange, and White 26-20 in the season opener Saturday, April 6, at West Allegheny High School. You can keep tabs on all the drives down the field on the Passion Twitter page (@pghpassionFB) or the ScoreStream App.

Cleveland lost 21-6 on the road Saturday, May 4 to the Detroit Dark Angels (3-0) at MacArthur K-8 University Academy in Lathrup Village, Michigan.

Gridiron Clipboard: Daman is a senior at Robert Morris University and a member of the Rowing team. The Colonials will be at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Rowing Tournament Sunday, May 19, at Cooper River Park in New Jersey.

Looking Back On YouTube.com – 2016 Pittsburgh Passion Vs. Keystone Assault – Game Highlights In The 100th Team Victory At Adamson Stadium…

Top Of The Article Photo Courtesy Of The Pittsburgh Passion Facebook Page