USA Ultimate

Open Division Northeast Regionals Recap

This past weekend, 16 teams from the Northeast met up to find out which two would advance to Sarasota. Ironside, going into the weekend seeded #1, had the easier road while PoNY and GOaT were almost destined to play each other twice to find out who would advance. The first round of games didn’t provide too many surprises, as every game except for one went to seed. Garuda, this year’s equivalent of Bodhi with lots of young talent from Massachusetts and New York, beat Mephisto, but that set them up to play Ironside in the next round. 

The second round was the first with some Sunday teams playing each other, as Dark or Light squared off against PoNY and Garuda faced Ironside. PoNY went up early on Dark or Light, taking half 8-3. Though DoL’s offense just didn’t seem to be clicking, their defense kept them in the game, coming as close as 10-7 at one point. In the Ironside-Garuda game, Ironside went up early and Garuda started resting starters, hoping to go deep into the backdoor bracket. 

The semi-finals were the last round of Saturday, with the winner getting a trip to the finals and a first round bye on Sunday. Ironside flew out of the gates against Phoenix, breaking three times in a row on tough man defense and great hucks off of a turn. While Phoenix tried to stay in the game, Ironside’s defense would not stop and their offense would not bend (interesting note: Ironside’s offense only got broken once all weekend – on the first point of the tournament). In the other semi-final, GOaT and PoNY faced off in a very important match, though GOaT was down 3 big names in Adrian Yearwood (injury), John Hassell (wedding), and Andy Ouchterlony (wedding). GOaT took half 8-5 on some calculated deep shots and some bad mistakes by PoNY, but in the second half, PoNY mounted a run, coming within one twice. However, GOaT would not be denied, winning 15-12 and sending PoNY to the backdoor.

Sunday’s finals started off as an intense match between Ironside and GoAT, with each team’s man defense making every throw contested. Alex Kapinos (Ironside) and Jeff Lindquist (GOaT) each made great grabs to secure their respective team’s first point. After an Ironside turn on the third point of the game, it looked like GOaT could capitalize, but the huck was too short, and Ironside righted the ship and punched it in for the score. Ironside would break twice before half, going into half with an 8-5 lead. After trading points out of half, something clicked with the Ironside defense, and they went on a 5 break run to bring it to 14-6, highlighted by a nice set of bookends by John Hatchett. Two traded points later, and Ironside took the region for the 4th year in a row, sending GOaT to face the winner of Dark or Light and PoNY.

In the backdoor games on Sunday, PoNY handled Garuda after taking half 8-3 and coasting to a 15-11 victory. Meanwhile, Dark or Light beat Phoenix 15-11, despite being tied at 10’s. Sam Hart dominated the last five points of the game, with three layout D’s, two goals, and an assist. This, of course, set up a rematch of yesterday’s quarterfinal, with Dark or Light vs. PoNY, winner plays GOaT to go to Nationals. PoNY went up early very quickly, taking half 8-4, but DoL started making their last run, hoping to make it further than anyone thought. At one point, Dark or Light had the disc, down 9-8, but after a turn, they just didn’t have anything left, and PoNY started rolling to a 15-8 victory.

In the backdoor finals, it was PoNY v. GoAT, America v. Canada, last year’s 2nd place v. two years ago’s 2nd place. The teams knew each other well, and it showed early on. Both teams’ offense struggled to move the disc down the field, often relying on amazing plays to score. PoNY broke, only to have GOaT break back, and break once more to take half 8-7, GOaT receiving. After a quick huck out of half, GOaT broke once more to take a 10-7 lead. More scores and a break lead to a 13-9 GOaT lead, and it looked like New York would have one last sho. Despite numerous athletic bids, the two teams would trade out for the 15-11 GOaT victory. Congratulations to both Ironside and GOaT for qualifying for Nationals.