Girls' Write-ups
By Patty King
Sunday
Sunday morning had similar weather to Saturday. There was still a strong wind, but it was drier and not nearly as scorching hot.
Colorado faced off against Wisconsin. Although the Wisconsin team was playing with more confidence than Saturday and trying to connect long throws to the speedy Kristen Brenner, they could not keep up with Colorado who was slightly upset with their Saturday showing and looking for their first win of the tournament.
Colorado came out fast and hard and took half 8-0. Despite the large point margin the Wisconsin sideline, which was composed of mainly parents, was still very excited. They were cheering loudly and ringing their cowbell proudly even as Colorado won 15-2.
On the field right next door, New England came out fast and went up quick on Cincinnati making it 4-0. Against Cincinnati’s hard person defense, New England found great success in breaking the mark, usually done by handler Amber Sinicrope, and worked it up the open break side.
In the second half New England switched to their 1-3-3 zone and Cincinnati could not swing the disc off the line past New England’s hard line traps. New England was able to take the game 15-2.
Minnesota got their turn to try to topple top-seeded Seattle. Both teams came out of their corners fighting and traded points until 3-3. Seattle’s Drew Johnson got a tremendous D that Seattle was able to convert to make it 4-3. Seattle threw on their zone defense and Minnesota fumbled the disc near their own end zone where Seattle punished them for it to make it 5-3. Seattle rattled off another quick one when Drew Johnson had a beautiful huck to Bailey Zahniser, 6-3.
Minnesota called a timeout in hopes to kill some of the Seattle momentum, but Seattle’s zone and quick handler movement off the turnover put them up 7-3. Minnesota was not ready to give up, and a long huck by Erica Baken to Elise Rasmussen, put them at 7-4. Minnesota came with their hard 4-person cup, but Seattle’s Junior Worlds handler trio, consisting of Fiona McKibben, Drew Johnson, and Anna Synder, stayed poised and barely batted an eyelash as Seattle took half 8-4.
After half, the two teams traded points taking it to 10-6. A big poach D from Drew Johnson gave Seattle an 11-6 lead as the soft cap goes on. Minnesota couldn’t catch back up and Seattle won 13-7.
In the second round of the day, Wisconsin, like many other teams in the Girls’ division, became victim to the strong and swift Seattle team. Seattle took half 8-0, and even got a Callahan in the first half. Seattle rolled through the second half as quickly and efficiently as they did in the first half and clenched their fifth win of the tournament and ensured themselves a place in the championship game.
A surprisingly close game between Colorado and Cincinnati also took place near by. Cincinnati took a 7-5 lead after some very long points that were filled with multiple turnovers. After Colorado burned a timeout they decided to switch to zone defense, and after two very long points Colorado tied it up at 7-7. But Cincinnati stepped it back up to take half 8-7. Colorado was pumped up after half and took the first two points to make it 9-8 when the hard cap went on. A big huck from Colorado’s Amber Smith was dropped in the end zone giving Cincinnati possession and a chance to win, but there was another quick turnover and Colorado was able to capitalize on for the win 10-8. Although the game was close in score, the Ultimate was very sloppy and Colorado was able to pull out the ugly win.
The game to watch in this round was between Oregon and New England. Since Oregon went undefeated on Saturday, New England was in a must-win situation in order to still have a shot at the championship game.
Oregon, coming off their first round bye, came out with fire in their eyes and their zone defense created many turnovers which helped to snag a quick 3-0 lead. New England attempted to extinguish the Oregon fire by calling a timeout, but a big grab in the end zone from Christine Wilson put Oregon up 4-0.
New England was definitely not going to roll over, and when Rosie Rabinovitz tracked down a floating disc, initially thrown over her head, the momentum of the game switched sides and New England cut the lead in half, 4-2. Both teams made few mistakes while trading points until, 6-4. New England played tough and solid person defense but couldn’t convert the turnovers they created into scores and Oregon was able go up 7-4.
New England realized that they were struggling with putting the disc into the end zone and when they approached again they used a timeout. However, they were still unable to score and Oregon took half 8-4.
The second half started out almost exactly the same way as the first. Oregon was fired up again and scored the first three points to make it 11-4. New England, with Amber Sinicrope breaking the mark, responded with two of their own for 11-6. The soft cap went on just as Oregon broke New England’s scoring streak for a 12-6 lead - game to 14. New England tried to hold, taking Oregon to hard cap, but weren’t able to come back and Oregon took the game, 13-7, to earn themselves a spot in the championship game.
Since Seattle and Oregon had a last round robin against each other the two teams collectively agreed against playing each other twice and waited to face each other until the championship game.
Cincinnati was able to stay in their game against Minnesota for the first couple of points, and were tied at 2-2, but Minnesota took off on a hot streak and Erica Baken was able to find Christine Rosen to take half 8-2. Right out of half Cincinnati’s Rita Klofta found Hayley Sandersen in an attempt to keep them in the game, making it 8-3, but Minnesota decided to shut the door after that and took the game running away, 15-3.
The important last round robin game was between Colorado and New England. If Colorado could pull out a victory, there would be a three-way tie between Minnesota, New England and Colorado for third place, but if New England won, they would ensure themselves third.
Both teams came out fighting strong until, 3-3. Then New England decided to take the game to the next level and scores from Sinicrope and Rachel Westgate put New England up 5-3. Colorado tried hard to stay within two points but could not hold the margin and New England took half 8-5.
Colorado came out vicious after half and used their person defense to force the middle of the field. This strategy was effective and with a monstrous layout grab from Colorado’s Dana Hayward, they tied the game up at 8-8. The soft cap was in place which made it a game to 10. Colorado stuck with forcing middle and created turnovers, but cannot keep possession themselves and New England’s Sinicrope found Westgate and then Claudia Tajima sneaking out the victory 10-8 and clinching third place.
The championship game between Seattle and Oregon was a battle for the pride along the west coast. Seattle came out fast and hard and every disc was theirs in the first half. With solid throws from Seattle’s Drew Johnson and magnificent cutting from Anna Synder and Bailey Zahniser, Seattle was able to waltz through the first half 8-2.
Just as Seattle owned the first half, Oregon decided to kick it into fifth gear in the second. Oregon’s Autumn Tocchi was able to complete some long hucks to the stellar cutting of Kati Dahn and Kimber Coles and very quickly Oregon turned the game around making it 8-6.
Seattle called a timeout to regain their focus and settled down with the disc. This appeared to work out well for Seattle as Lindsey Wilson was able to find Rachel Karpelowitz to make it 9-6. But flawless Oregon offense was able to answer right back for 9-7. Zahniser stepped it up a notch for Seattle scoring the next two to make it 11-7. Again flawless Oregon offense from Caitlin Jost to Chelsea Thaw makes it 11-8. The next was extremely long and intense and Seattle’s defense forced Oregon to huck it away at a high stall count but could not capitalize. Then Seattle’s Zahniser gets a huge layout D, Johnson then put one up to let Zahniser run it down giving her the deserved glory and keeping Seattle up 12-8.
The next point was another long one where the disc was moved up and down the field numerous times. Oregon attempted a big huck to the end zone but it was not completed. Seattle picked up the disc but threw it right away and near the end zone Angela Tocchi found Julia Sherwood to pull Oregon closer, 12-9. The soft cap went on and the game was now to 14.
Seattle’s Johnson put up a huge huck that Maggie Fisher came down with for 13-9, but Oregon’s Aubri Bishop answered right back to put up a huge huck of her own that Kimber Coles caught to make it 13-10. Seattle’s quick handler movement and solid, easy offense worked it right down the field with no turnovers and found the speedy Zahniser yet again to win the game 14-10 and the tournament with no losses.
The Oregon coach Luke Johnson said it best, “We had a blast this year and can’t wait to see what teams will come out in the future and how much the tournament will grow!”
Saturday
Late night thunderstorms created very wet and sloppy fields as the horn sounded to start the first round. The sun was shining and there was a strong crosswind which led to a very exciting first round of play. Flood from Eugene, Oregon came out eager to start their day and jumped up early on Pigasus from Cincinnati, Ohio. Flood’s intensity was strong to start and scoring two Callahan’s only added to their momentum. Pigasus could not stop their surge and Flood cruised through their first game 15-2.
Blue Crush from New England also came out strong against Holey Mackerel from Madison, Wisconsin. On a low field filled with numerous ankle-deep puddles, Blue Crush was not afraid to get their feet wet winning the game 15-1.
The most exciting game in the first round was the match-up between Cutthroat from Colorado and Misces from Minnesota playing on their home field. Both teams came out with fierce zone defenses hoping to use the strong wind to their advantage. Cutthroat used a 3-person cup while Misces clamped down with a 4-person cup. After a lot of trading points, and many long points Cutthroat was able to squeak out ahead at half 8-6. After half, Misces came out hard and fast, perhaps surprising the Colorado team. The 4-person cup stepped it up by knocking away any attempted throw through them and the Misces offense was making crisper passes down the field. This allowed Misces to score four unanswered points making it 10-8 as the soft cap went on. The quick run that Misces came out with after half time was too big for Cutthroat to catch and gave Misces the come from behind victory 12-10.
After an extra hour of sleep, the Seattle girls came out well-rested and wide awake from their first round bye. Their first victim of the day was Cincinnati’s Pigasus. With Cincinnati playing person defense, Seattle was able to show-off their brand new offense; their horizontal stack. With fabulous cuts and little turnovers Seattle made their move early taking half 8-1. In their time out Cincinnati discussed their cutter movement and what they needed to adjust but Pigasus could not seem to come back, and Seattle took the game 15-1.
Minnesota Misces coming off their huge first round win kept their momentum into their second game against Madison Holey Mackerel. Misces soared through the first half 8-1. Both teams used combinations both person defense and zone defense and both teams worked the disc very nicely down the field. The Madison offense in their vertical stack flowed well, but unfortunately had some miscues that Minnesota was able to capitalize on winning the game 15-1.
Colorado seemed to lose some steam after their hard fought first game as they lined up against Oregon’s Flood in the second round. Oregon continued to keep up their momentum by their big defensive plays. This kept their sideline very active and excited compared to the quiet Colorado team. Colorado tried to come back with some long attempts, but with Oregon playing hard person defense with a lot of physical contact the hucks could not seem to be completed. Oregon’s defense powered them to victory 15-4 over Colorado.
The cross wind is still strong at the start of the third round of play. New England Blue Crush is coming off their bye and they are ready to face the disciplined 4-person cup that Minnesota Misces has been playing. New England grabs a 3-1 lead early and Minnesota is quick to call a time out in an attempt to stop New England’s energy, but New England keeps on trucking. The Minnesota team has trouble working it past the New England’s 1-3-3 zone defense; where Blue Crush’s Sophie Herscu is chasing extremely fast, and getting a hard mark on every throw to contain Misces’ offense. Minnesota tries to make a comeback pulling within two making the score 8-6 just after half, but New England is quick to step up their already smooth offense, swinging the disc from sideline to sideline with no player holding the disc past stall-four. The combination of swinging disc quicker and their not-as-traditional zone allowed New England to pull away and win 15-7.
On the next field, Seattle has moved on to their next victim. This time it is Colorado. Colorado changes things up a little by playing person defense and forcing backhand but Seattle works right through it without changing their flow. Even with Seattle pulling ahead making it 9-2, their whole sideline remained in the game, and it is obvious that these teammates respect each other greatly.
Seattle’s Liz Arakaki commented, “I was really excited for this tournament because I’m so used to high school where I have to cover all these (Seattle) girls, I’m so glad I get to play on the same side as them now, instead of against them.”
Seattle and their sideline stay up and win 15-2.
On the far field, Oregon continues their flawless record by not giving up a point to Madison. Madison was having some confusion with their offense against the dominant Oregon zone, and Oregon captures the game 15-0, and looks to find some shade before their fourth game.
As the last round of the day begins the fields have become much less slippery and the wind has died down quite a bit making it much hotter. Cincinnati is well-rested after their bye and ready for the Madison girls. Rita Klofta is Pigasus’ key to their smooth offense and working the disc patiently down the field. Cincinnati takes half over Madison 8-0. The Madison women come out in the second half looking very tired and sluggish and Cincinnati continues to flow to win 15-2.
Seattle and New England, seeded No.1 and No.2, respectively, trade points at the beginning until a huge layout D by Seattle’s Drew Johnson fire’s Seattle up and they convert the score to make it 4-3. This started the momentum for Seattle and with some perfect hucks from Seattle’s Maggie Fisher they take half 8-4. After half, New England decides to switch from a zone defense to a person defense forcing the middle of the field. This does not seem to have as good of results and Seattle wins 15-5.
Minnesota sees if they can give Oregon their first loss of day, but with Oregon’s solid 3-person cup they take an early 2-0 lead. By crashing through the cup, Minnesota is able to make it a one point game at 5-4 and tries to hold on, but Oregon’s Kimber Coles tracks down a long throw in the end zone making it 7-5 and Oregon pushes one taking half 8-5. A long point is played after half, where Oregon calls a time out with the disc on the end zone line and sure enough gets the score, taking a 4 point lead. With both teams playing a lot of person defense, more long attempts go up than with zone defense and Oregon’s throws are more on target. Minnesota tries to hold on but cannot seem to score enough to cut down the lead and Oregon, along with Seattle remains undefeated for the day.
Oregon coach Luke Johnson looks forward to tomorrow saying, “We’re in a good place to surprise and upset some teams, and we’re excited face the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds right away Sunday morning.”
