History: Boston vs. New York

There are no two cities with a bigger sports rivalry than New York and Boston. This past weekend, Fenway Park was jammed full from the populace of Red Sox Nation as the hometown team took on the hated New York Yankees. Despite an 0-6 start, the boys from Beantown took 2 out of 3 games and Red Sox fans started climbing back on to the bus. The rivalry between these two great cities doesn't stop with just baseball, the Bruins-Rangers, Patriots-Jets, and Celtics-Knicks also bring packed stands. Well, maybe not so much with the Knicks.

The rivalry even transcends into women's football. Starting back in 2000, the New York Sharks played their first regular season game against a team from Boston, the New England Storm. The game was a hard-fought battle that was tied 8-8 at the half. The Sharks took the lead on a 40-yard touchdown run by running back Nathalie Jufer and the defense made it stand up for the rest of the game for a New York victory on the road.

It didn't take long for Boston to get its revenge as the two teams met again the following weekend in New York. This time the Storm prevailed 3-0. It was a bizarre field goal as the visitor's kicker missed the first time but the Sharks were called for a penalty. Boston kicked again and missed again, but New York was called for another penalty...again. Well the third time was the charm and that gave the win to Boston.

The two teams met again in the playoffs that season up in snowy New England. The Sharks tried their best but fell short 10-7. The Storm then went on to play the Houston Energy for the WPFL Championship Game, but lost.

From 2001 until 2006, the rivalry cooled off. During that time the team from Boston changed names, changed ownership, changed leagues, and changed players many times. The Sharks dominated the New Englanders during that stretch going a perfect 9-0 with 7 shutouts. They outscored Boston 255-18.

But starting in 2006 the games with the now Boston Militia started to be more competitive. Boston was still on the short side of the score but they were getting a few points of their own. It wasn't until 2008 when Boston got their first victory over New York in 8 years by the score of 28-14.

That game seemed to be a watershed moment as Boston has won 4 games in a row against New York. Their last victory was last year as Boston knocked New York out of the playoffs in the IWFL Divisional Playoff game.  This Boston went on to the IWFL Championship Game and won.

This week the rivalry starts up all over again as the New York Sharks take on the Boston Militia up in Massachusetts this saturday, April 16th.  The Sharks are coming off a solid victory over the Philadelphia Liberty Belles while Boston came away with a loss from the D.C. Divas.  This should be a good game as both teams are fighting for the WFA North Atlantic Division title.  If the Sharks can hand the Militia their second loss of the year, the Boston women will be in a hole as big as Boston's boys of summer.

Kick-off between these two old foes will be 6pm (EDT) at Dilboy Stadium in Somerville, Massachusetts. If you can't make it to the game, you can still follow all of the action live as Pat Brown and Dave Maxwell will call the game on IYMSportsRadio.com.