On a chilly weekend this spring, a dozen young women at Neumann made history. They played in the first Atlantic East Conference flag football game on April 13.

In the initial game of a four-team tournament, Immaculata defeated Neumann, 13-7, at Draper Walsh Stadium in Malvern. The Knights regrouped to win the consolation game against Centenary, 32-0, before Marymount won the tournament with a 52-0 victory over Immaculata.

The scores were not as significant, however, as the debut of the sport.

With the endorsement of and financial support from the NFL and RCX Sports, the Atlantic East announced in June 2023 that it would launch flag football as a varsity sport in the spring of 2025, one of the first NCAA conferences at any level to do so.

Flag football was a club sport this year at four Atlantic East schools (Centenary, Immaculata, Marymount, and Neumann), and the April 13 tournament was the first official competition in the sport.

The Knights were led by QB Giovanna “Gia” Santorello, a sophomore physical therapy major.

Others on the roster were Celeste Adjaglo, Courtney Blackney, Victoria Millward, Sydnilah Nahim, Alexis Navarro, Olivia Putting, Yasmailyn Historic: Women Launch Flag Football Team Robles, Hayley Strecker, Ya’Nayshia Thomas, Donyjah Wilson, and Ty’onna Wright.

The four schools will play a non-traditional season in the fall of 2024 before varsity competition begins in the spring of 2025 under the leadership of Nellie Mixon ’06, who was named head coach in May. Matt Lawson ’18 will serve as assistant coach.

Flag football is similar to the NFL game with some key differences: a shorter field, sevenon- seven play, and no offensive or defensive line players. Instead of tackling, players in possession of the ball are downed when an opponent removes a breakaway flag from their waist belts.

The popularity of flag football is indicative of the booming interest in women’s sports in the U.S. and across the globe. According to an NBC report in December of 2023, it is played by more than 20 million people across more than 100 countries.

Flag football is on track to be an Olympic sport in 2028

Main Photo Caption - Front row: Ty’onna Wright, Celest Adjaglo, Sydnilah Nahim; Middle row: Donyjah Wilson, Olivia Putting, Yasmailyn Robles; Top row: Courtney Blackey, Giovanna Santorello, Ya’Nayshia Thomas, Hayley Strecker, Victoria Millward, Alexis Navarro, Sir Francis, Matt Lawson ’18 (Asst. Coach, Director of Club Sports)