Stella managed a nearly perfect season in 2005, despite coping with the challenges of a totally new roster - with players ranging from the very experienced to the fresh and green.

Warming up with a practice weekend in Kingston in early May, Stella experienced the usual early-season obstacles against teams like Lotus and Storm.

June's Boston Invitational and the stifling heat that came with it also served to point out the team's weaknesses. It was at this tournament that Stella suffered her only loss of the season - a two point loss to (say it with me) Lotus in the semi-finals (despite having beaten Lotus by one a day earlier).

These early season frustrations paid off big later in the season. Stella spent the next few weeks focusing her energy on defensive-line synergies and working our zone o issues. When Lotus and Stella next met at No Borders, Stella handily took the tourney - defeating Lotus by a handful in the final.

Stella later traveled to Vermont to play in a warm-up tourney before Nats. While the competition there was sparse (hats off to Storm for a valiant performance in the tournament final), this tourney was really all about gel-time. Here the team shared its best moments of tequila shooting, DJ-booth-hogging and local-mocking when they went out in rockin St. Alban's. The heaves (Myriam) and laughs gave Stella the extra love she needed to peak right on time.

The competition at Nationals was strong across the board - with experience and athleticism spread across many teams from both the east and the west. Stella's deep roster proved too much for every single opponent she played. And after a brief hiccup towards the end of the championship game, Stella nabbed her first championship trophy since 2002.