IMMACULATA, Pa- The Immaculata women's flag football team is set to help make history for a second time, as they prepare for the opening of the first ever full season for women's flag football in an NCAA Conference. The Atlantic East Conference and Immaculata made history last April with the first Flag Football Conference Championship held at Immaculata. On Friday, the AEC opens the first regular season for women's flag football at Centenary University. Immaculata will play in the second game of the event vs. Penn State Schuylkill at 3:00 p.m. Immaculata will then play the host Centenary at 4:00 p.m.
Immaculata will host their first tri-match on Friday, March 14th at Draper Walsh Stadium following Friday's event. Immaculata will play Marymount at 6:00 p.m. in a rematch of last season's Championship Game. Marymount will play Eastern at 7:00 p.m., and Immaculata will Eastern in the third game at 8:00 p.m.
COACHING STAFF
Head Coach Joe Trainer returns for his second season at the helm of the Immaculata women's flag football team.
New assistant Coach Bill Coddington will join Joe Trainer this season. Coddington joins Immaculata after coaching girls' flag football at Souderton High School.
SEASON OVERVIEW Last spring ten players participated in the inaugural Atlantic East Conference Championships for Immaculata's team. This season the team has 19 players, including eight returning players for last year's AEC Runner-up.
The team has been practicing the past few weeks preparing for Friday's season opener. When asked about the team's demeanor in practice Head Coach Joe Trainer said "Our desire to be a championship level team has impressed me the most. Our players have a strong will to compete."
ROSTER CHECK
Immaculata returns eight players from last season's team led by Sophomore quarterback Natalie Dodd who scored the first touchdown in a flag football game hosted by an NCAA school in their semifinal victory over Neumann. In 2025 Dodd is listed as a quarterback and a wide receiver.
Other returning players include center / defensive back Jessica Elliott, center/linebacker Ashanti Leon, wide receiver and defensive back Samantha Rivera, running back / linebacker Sam Salvatore, wide receiver/linebacker Rory Watson, wide receiver/linebacker Meg Robbins, and wide receiver / defensive back Emma Wagner.
WELCOME TO THE TEAM
The Immaculata women's flag football team welcomes 11 new members to the team this season, who will look to earn significant playing time this season.
The new players include wide receiver / defensive back Tiara Lawler, running back / defensive back Lauren Gartman, wide receiver/linebacker Ella Bonaventure, wide receiver / defensive back Theresa Jappah, wide receiver / defensive back Emma Bouska, quarterback / wide receiver Sydney Butcher, wide receiver / defensive back Samantha Seidito, wide receiver / defensive back Eliana Szatkowski, wide receiver / defensive back Abigail Lentowski, running back / linebacker Ciai Harris, and center/linebacker Sarah Dougherty.
"We have a great blend of returning players and newcomers who will make a great impact," continued Trainer. "Coach Bill (Coddington) and I are excited about the number of talented players on our team."
SEASON OUTLOOK
This season seven teams will be competing for the Atlantic East Conference Championship in the first full season for women's flag football. Centenary, Immaculata, Marymount, and Neumann return for their second year, and they will be joined by affiliate members, Eastern, Holy Family, and Penn State Schuylkill. Marywood will join for the spring of 2026.
"The groundswell of excitement about women's flag football has been awesome to witness. It is the fastest growing sport in America," concluded Trainer. "To be a small part of this movement has been special for me. Doing it at Immaculata University makes it even more special."
