Divas start new season in new league

After their home opener against the New England Intensity (7 p.m. Saturday at the Sports and Learning Complex in Landover), the Divas will head to Brooklyn to face the New York Sharks next weekend and then begin preparing for the Demolition’s visit to Landover on June 2.

The Divas have been busy since winning their first NWFA title. In addition to moving to a new league, head coach Ezra Cooper’s son Payton was born. Running back Rachel Pecovsky-Bentley, the NWFA’s offensive Most Valuable Player last season, got married and quarterback Allyson Hamlin endured a rigorous workout program.

‘‘I’m definitely in the best shape that I’ve ever been,” said Hamlin, an Eleanor Roosevelt High School and University of Maryland graduate. ‘‘I have a personal trainer and she really works me hard. But it was something that I needed. This league is going to be much tougher, but that’s what we wanted. We want to play the Sharks and the Demolition. Detroit wasn’t on the schedule at first, but they called us out. They even agreed to come here to plays us.”

Cooper, who has been the Divas’ only head coach since owner Paul Hamlin unveiled the team for the 2000 season, admitted that soon after the team received its championship rings on March 21 it was back to work. After their previous meetings with the Detroit Demolition, that June 2 contest is high on the priority list.

‘‘There’s definitely a gold star on the calendar next to that game,” Cooper said. ‘‘We know Detroit has a great team, but they wanted to play us and they wanted to come here to do it. We’ve got three tough games before then. I don’t know much about New England, but they have the coaching staff from the Mass Mutiny. Those guys are sharp and they know us, so we’ll be in for a test right off the top.”

One thing Hamlin is certain to like about the new league is the fact that the IWFL uses a synthetic ball that is smaller than the NWFA ball. Hamlin said the new ball is much easier to grip and will enhance her deep throwing skills. Her wide receiving corps, led by all-rookie selection Tara Stephenson, will also give opposing secondary players fits.

‘‘I really like the new ball,” Hamlin said. ‘‘Our receivers are having a little trouble right now adjusting to it because the ball has a little more bounce to it and doesn’t stick to your hands right away. But they’ve gotten better and they’re going to be awesome this year. We’re just all looking forward to a challenging season. I’d rather go 0-8 against eight good teams than go 8-0 by beating up on eight bad teams.”

Not only did Pecovsky-Bentley get married — she wears her wedding ring on one hand and her championship ring on the other — she also moved to Evansville, Ind. last fall. Unsure whether or not she would play football this spring, Pecovsky-Bentley contacted Cooper after her husband, Jeff, insisted that she look to remain with the Divas. She lives with two other players in Herndon, Va. and will be rejoined this weekend by her husband, who is traveling from Indiana to see the game.

‘‘I was considering playing for two teams out in the midwest,” said Pecovsky-Bentley, an accomplished chef and caterer who spends five to six hours cooking for teammates before each practice. ‘‘But my husband wanted me to stay with the Divas. Three days later,I called Ezra and told him that I wanted to come back. I’m looking forward to playing all of those tough teams. We want to prove that we can win in this league.”

E-mail Ted Black at tblack@gazette.net.