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| Making a one handed repcetion in an April 14, 2012 match versus the New York Sharks |
While Tom Brady has assembled a Hall of Fame career that has made him as big a sporting legend in Boston as Bobby Orr, Bill Russell and Ted Williams, Allison Cahill of the Boston Militia has built quite the resume herself. In a distinguished career that has seen the 32-year-old Cahill win two national football titles (the Independent Women’s Football League championship in 2010, and the Women’s Football Alliance title in 2011), she has built a remarkable sporting legacy for female football in Boston.
A lifelong New England Patriots fan, she had a memorable opportunity to throw the ball with former New England Patriots quarterback Steve Grogan. Her father had Patriots season tickets for over 30 years, and Cahill grew up fondly watching the Patriots compete at the former Sullivan Stadium in Foxboro.
Hailing from Uxbridge, Massachusetts, Cahill is a multi-sport star that once played basketball for Princeton University in the Ivy League. In her junior season (2001-02), she led the Princeton Tigers in two statistical categories, points per game (14.2) and assists (83).
Her 119 rebounds and 53 three-pointers ranked second on the Tigers squad. For her efforts, she was named a 2002 Second Team All-Ivy selection. Having graduated in 2003 with a major in History, Cahill’s 176 career three-pointers rank eighth all-time in Ivy League history.
Her first brush with football began in the fifth grade when she played flag football in a local boys league. As the team’s quarterback, she would lead them to three consecutive league titles.
While at Uxbridge High School, the District E Athletic Directors Award was bestowed upon her. Criterion for the honor included scholastic achievement, citizenship and leadership. On the hard court, she led Uxbridge to four consecutive winning seasons, complemented by four postseason berths.
In addition, she was the school’s all-time leading scorer in basketball (among both boys and girls). She would also earn three varsity letters in softball, while serving as captain of both the softball and basketball squads.
Since the Militia was formed in 2008, Cahill has served as the team’s starting quarterback. In that time span, the Militia have gone a Tom Brady-like 55-5 under Cahill’s leadership. Named the Militia’s Most Valuable Player in 2009, she would also earn the WFA Conference Offensive Player of the Year Award in 2011 (along with First Team All-America honors).
In their first ever home game in franchise history (contested in 2008 against the DC Divas), she ran the ball for the first touchdown of the contest, a 27-22 Militia victory. It would be a sign of greater things to come for Cahill and the Militia (which were an amalgamation of two defunct franchises, the Boston Rampage and the Massachusetts Mutiny).
Cahill would leave an impression in her last two seasons in the Independent Women’s Football League (2009 and 2010). Resulting in two consecutive 8-0 regular season records, Cahill would help the Militia to a memorable finish in 2010. Competing in the IWFL Championship game, the squad vanquished the Sacramento Sirens to finish with an 11-0 overall record.
Her legacy would only grow in 2011 when the Militia joined the Women’s Football Alliance. Finishing with a 7-1 record, Cahill would make a huge statement in the postseason. A victory over the Chicago Force in the conference semi-finals was made sweeter as their quarterback was Sami Grisafe (who helped the US win a gold medal at the 2010 IFAF World Championships).
The 2011 WFA title game would serve as Cahill’s chance to shine. While she only threw for 106 yards, her three touchdown passes were crucial. After a first quarter that saw opponent San Diego take a 6-0 lead, Cahill displayed great poise. On their first possession in the second quarter, Cahill bounced back with a touchdown pass to Adrienne Smith.
With the momentum changing, it would mark the beginning of three consecutive touchdowns in the second quarter. With 48 seconds remaining in the half, Cahill would find Whitney Zelee for a 12-yard touchdown pass, as the Militia jumped out to a 20-6 advantage.
Boston’s first possession in the third quarter would result in Cahill tossing her third touchdown pass. A 16-yard toss to Emily Weinberg would widen the lead to a 27-6 margin. While the offense sputtered in the fourth quarter, Cahill protected the lead, as the Militia would defeat the Surge by a 34-19 final for the 2011 WFA championship.
While Militia teammate Whitney Zelee set a WFA record in 2013 by logging the first 2,000-yard rushing season in league history, she credited Cahill with helping her get into shape. When not serving as the field general for the Militia, Cahill is employed as a personal trainer. Zelee’s record breaking season is testament to Cahill’s abilities as a team leader.
During the 2013 regular season (in which Boston finished 8-0 with a division title), Cahill completed 65.3 percent of her passes (64-of-98 attempts), while also tossing for 1,002 passing yards. She was one of only eight quarterbacks who threw for more than 1,000 yards in the season.
This was complemented by 12 touchdown passes (compared to only two interceptions) and a passer rating of 130.2 (ranking fourth in the league), while also being named a WFA First-Team All-American.
As the women of football struggle for respect and recognition, the fans at Dilboy Memorial Stadium in Somerville know that they have a gem in Cahill. Her fierce work ethic has led to championship results, helping to solidify Boston’s standing as the greatest City of Champions of the last ten years (Super Bowl wins in 2001, 2003-04, World Series wins in 2004, 2007, an NBA title in 2008, a Stanley Cup victory in 2011 and a Clarkson Cup in 2013).
She may not earn a million dollar salary or have product endorsements, but no one can put a value on the heart and dedication that she brings as Boston’s field general. While she works towards ending her 2013 campaign with a second WFA title, the sporting legacy that she is creating in Boston will forever leave an impression on fans.
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