USA Ultimate

Mixed Division Northeast Regionals Recap

Any team named after the Greek hero Odysseus should not expect an easy trip anywhere. And so it was at Northeast Mixed Regionals, where top-seeded Odyssée endured a long journey through the brackets, ultimately coming away empty-handed as three competitors from Boston, Cambridge, and New Haven earned the right to represent the region at the USA Ultimate Club Championships.

As the brackets slimmed on Saturday it became increasingly clear that the four top teams--Odyssée, The Ghosts, Slow White, and District 5--were competing for only three bids to Sarasota. All four progressed to the semifinal round, setting up 1-4 and 2-3 matchups to decide who would play in the finals on Sunday morning.

In one semifinal, The Ghosts charged to a commanding 7-2 lead over Slow White, eventually taking half 8-4. The teams traded impressive D’s--Tim Cobbett denying a Slow White score with a spectacular leaping grab, and Adrienne Altobelli stepping in front of a pass to deny The Ghosts--but it was The Ghosts who capitalized more often, leaving Slow to rue missed chances as their opponents pushed their lead to 11-6. It was at this scoreline that Slow White found their form, however, and raced back to tie the game late. The Ghosts scored the final point though to win the first spot in Sunday’s finals.

[PHOTO CREDIT: Burt Granofsky]

Meanwhile an upset was brewing in the other semifinal game. District 5’s zone defense forced an early Odyssée turn, and a layout score later they found themselves up 2-0 on the number one seed. District 5 maintained this advantage in a nip-and-tuck affair to take half at 8-6. Perhaps sensing that their expected journey to Sarasota was in peril, Odyssée made a run in the second half, putting together quick, clinical offense points with smothering zone defense to pull close at 11-10. Odysee’s #11, Yoland Cabot, tied the game at 11 after another District 5 turn; District 5 retook the lead, but it was Cabot again with the equalizer, laying out under heavy pressure from Husayn Carnegie. Not only did District 5 lose the point, but they also lost their talismanic defensive player for the rest of the tournament as he suffered a separated shoulder. That was as close as Odyssée would come, however. District 5 recovered their composure and took the last two points to setup a Sunday final with The Ghosts. Oddysée was left to rue a comeback that came up just short.

 

Sunday’s finals matchup did not disappoint. The Ghosts took half at 8-5, but fans could tell that this game was just getting started—both teams had survived late scares and emerged victorious the previous day, and confidence was not lacking on either side. Up 9-6, The Ghosts were positioned to take a commanding 4-point lead after a District 5 turn. They could not take advantage though, and a Justin Segool score seemed to breathe new life into the New Haven team, as they went on a run to tie the score at 9-9. The game was full-tilt now; nearly every throw was contested with a layout, and both sidelines were screaming encouragement to their seven on the field. John Korber scored two in a row to put District 5 up 12-10; The Ghosts answered with two of their own, Jeff Graham pirouetting into the end zone on the first.

[PHOTO CREDIT: Burt Granofsky]

 

[PHOTO CREDIT: Burt Granofsky]

A late turn by District 5 gave The Ghosts the opening they were looking for, and they capitalized with a quick strike to go up 14-13. District 5 equalized, but The Ghosts methodically worked the disc up the field on the final point, Graham scoring the winner and sending his team to Nationals.

As The Ghosts celebrated, District 5 was faced with a rematch of Saturday’s tough semifinal—Odyssée had beaten Mixed Nuts and then Slow White, and had a chance to avenge their upset a day earlier. To make matters worse, District 5 had to face them without Carnegie.

[PHOTO CREDIT: Burt Granofsky]

It did not matter though. District 5 broke a 5-5 tie by scoring three in a row, and despite using the same zone that had frustrated their opponents on Saturday, Odyssée could not force the same number of turns. They also had no answer for Justin Segool. He threw one and caught three of District 5’s final four points, leading his team to a 15-12 victory and claiming the second berth at Nationals (and some well-deserved rest).

So it was that Odyssée’s quest continued. They fell into the third place game where a victory over Slow White—a team they had beaten earlier in the day—would send them to their desired destination.

But perhaps inspired by their near-takedown of The Ghosts the day before, Slow White came out with an intensity that the Canadians couldn’t match. Miles Montgomery-Butler put Slow White in front 3-2 with a layout score, and a few points later he pulled in a hammer to put Slow up 6-4. They took half 8-4.

[PHOTO CREDIT: Burt Granofsky]

As the points wore on the top seed looked more and more defeated. Not even the inspired play of Jean-Lévy Champagne was enough to turn the tide; Odyssée could not force enough turns to get back into the game, trading points with Slow White the rest of the way. Cody Rebholz snagged the final score, and as Slow White celebrated another trip to Nationals, Odyssée was cruelly left to chart a route back north. Like the Greek hero pictured on their shirts, Odyssée was heading home—though home was hardly the destination they had in mind when they began their journey.

[PHOTO CREDIT: Burt Granofsky]

[PHOTO CREDIT: Burt Granofsky]

Final Standings: 1 - The Ghosts 2 - District 5 3 - Slow White 4 - Odyssée 5 - Smang 6 - Mixed Nuts 7T - Ballometrics 7T - 7Express T9 - Boomshakalaka T9 - Flight (NYC) T11 - Destructors T11 - Pleasuretown 13 - Detroit Lions 14 - Manhattan Project 15 - Apocalypse Meow 16 - Short Clue Championship Game:    The Ghost 15    District 5 14       2nd Place Game:    District 5 15    Odyssée 12      Full results

 

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