Mount Saint Mary College’s Women’s Flag Football team took on St. Joseph’s University Long Island on Sunday, March 15.
In just over a year, Women’s Flag Football at Mount Saint Mary College has become a groundbreaking fixture in the Knights’ club sports lineup.
The 2026 roster features athletes who are excelling both on the field and in the classroom, like Ammarah Royster of Newburgh, N.Y. Royster isn’t just a threat on the field: as a Digital Media Production major, she represents the multitasking spirit of the Mount student-athlete. She is joined by veteran leadership from Cayla Nicholas and Mikaia Coley, both from Hopewell Junction, N.Y., and both of whom help anchor the Knights’ defense.
The Mount first announced the addition of Women’s Flag Football as a club sport for the Spring 2025 season. It was a move that tapped into one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, and the response from the student body was immediate.
By the end of March 2025, the dream became a reality. That month, the Knights hosted their inaugural “Play Day” at Kaplan Field, welcoming St. Joseph’s Brooklyn and St. Joseph’s Long Island for the program’s first-ever competitive snaps.
As the program looked toward its second year, the college hired Rich Curran as the next head coach in August 2025. Curran brought a championship pedigree to the program, having previously led Our Lady of Lourdes to a sectional title appearance and served on a decorated coaching staff at SUNY Cortland.
At the collegiate level, Women’s Flag Football continues to expand, with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics leading the charge through initiatives like the NFL FLAG Women’s College Program. These programs create pathways for high school athletes to transition to competitive play in college, with scholarship opportunities further encouraging participation.