Written and photographed by Mark Turcotte –
Linebacker Taylor Brzycki hit a ball carrier so hard that her chin strap became a nose guard. Defensive end Angelica Burgin shed blockers so quickly, she became a mainstay in the Buffalo backfield, and running back Mahala Smith juked defenders with moves that would make Saquon Barkley proud.
Women’s football has been breaking barriers in Maine for over two decades. If that’s news to you, you’re not alone. They haven’t made much noise in LA, but that’s about to change.
The text above described scenes from the Mayhem’s 28-0 win over the Buffalo Blizzard at their new home, Don Roux Field, on the campus of Lewiston High School.
Largely based in the Portland area, the team has experienced a few facelifts: the Maine Freeze, the Maine Lynx, the Southern Maine Rebels, and, since 2015, the Maine Mayhem. Thanks to a pro soccer team moving into Fitzpatrick Stadium, the search for a new field led them to Lewiston.
Now, over 30 players and a dedicated staff look to defend their consecutive Northeast Regional championships with a twin cities backdrop.
Former player and current general manager Kate Archambault grew up playing backyard football with the neighborhood kids. As the boys moved on to organized pee-wee games, Kate was left behind. There were no opportunities for her to continue growing with the sport she loved. When she learned of women’s football, she signed on and suited up as a 52-year-old rookie.
After the Maine Rebels folded in 2015, Kate surrounded herself with like-minded football fanatics and formed the Mayhem. A team that provides female athletes, ages 18 and over, the opportunity to play full-contact football in a positive environment that focuses on success in football and life.
As a CPA, Kate handles all financial aspects of the team and is the point of contact for recruiting volunteers, obtaining practice fields, and securing game-day officials.
Support for the younger generation is provided through the “Girls of Fall” program, in which the Mayhem Players encourage girls under 18 to play tackle football on traditional boys’ teams throughout the state and beyond.
Each season, the girls are recognized during halftime with their names announced over the PA system and a line of Mayhem players anxiously awaiting high-fives. The smiles on both sides are genuine and infectious.
The Mayhem are part of the Women’s Football Alliance (WFA), which oversees nearly 60 teams nationwide. It is the first women’s football league to play a National Championship in an NFL stadium and secure a multiyear television network deal with ESPN.
The regular season runs from April through June, with the postseason extending into late July. WFA travel is not for the faint of heart. This year, the Mayhem will battle with Connecticut, New York, Harrisburg, Baltimore, and Buffalo teams. Mayhem players hail from local areas including Lewiston/Auburn, Lisbon, Sabattus, Poland, and several New England states.
Semi-pro football has found a home in our backyard – and this time, the ladies are calling the shots.