Kayla Maisch has made Neumann history. She is the university’s first flag football recruit.

Neumann first fielded a flag football team for a one-day tournament in the spring of 2024, but the young women on that squad had enrolled before flag football became an official club sport. Not so with Maisch. She was among dozens of high school girls who were recruited by Assistant Coach Matthew Lawson and the first to say yes.

Lawson scouted a game at Coatesville Area High School, where Maisch played, and told her about Neumann’s new team. After doing some research, she was sold.

“My first time playing flag football was in my senior year, and I really liked it,” she explains. “I decided I wanted to play in college. After I met Coach Lawson and found out that Neumann had my major, I thought ‘This is perfect.’”

Lawson couldn’t be happier with her decision. “Her level of play on the field, along with the positive attitude and support she was giving to her teammates on and off the field, greatly impressed me. After her visit to campus, I knew she would be a great fit for not only the flag football program but the university as a whole.”

The 18-year-old pre-engineering major played wide receiver for Coatesville’s team, which finished its first year of competition with a winning record.

She admits that she has always loved playing football. “I like the fast pace, the running, and making long catches. When the quarterback hits you perfectly in your hands, it’s so satisfying. I like pulling flags, too. That’s what I’m good at.”

Maisch is looking forward to the first game, a Homecoming Weekend match against the College of Staten Island on September 28 at 6 p.m.

“Neumann doesn’t have a football team, and most colleges have a homecoming football game. I think it’s cool that the flag football team gets to debut at homecoming.”

With the endorsement of and financial support from the NFL and RCX Sports, the Atlantic East Conference is set to begin its first full season of flag football in the spring of 2025 with six teams participating: Centenary, Eastern, Holy Family, Immaculata, Marymount, and Neumann.

The initial Atlantic East flag football games occurred in a four-team tournament on April 13, 2024. Immaculata defeated Neumann, 13-7, at Draper Walsh Stadium in Malvern before the Knights regrouped to win the consolation game against Centenary, 32-0.

The scores were not as significant, however, as the debut of the sport, which has spiked in popularity in recent years. Pennsylvania legislators are expected to approve it as an official PIAA high school sport in the coming months.

Flag football is similar to the NFL game with some key differences: a shorter field (70 yards), seven-on-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.