Hellfish Wrapup

So its been a day since our first tournament of the spring, and I have finally had enough time to decompress and kind of recover from the weekend. We came in seeded 4th in our pool on Saturday, looking to upset some unsuspecting teams and make moves. Saturdays weather was pretty nice, 50s and sunny with probably 10-15 mph cross winds all day. Definitely manageable.

Game 1: Princeton
Having a first round bye was awesome. We got to wake up a little later than the other teams and got to the fields around halftime of round 1. This allowed us plenty of time to get cleated/warmed up for our first game against Princeton. This was important seeing as they had already had a game and had their throws accustomed to being outside already. This turned out to actually be our closest game scorewise all day. We went up 2-0 right of the bat, but they came right back at us to tie. We then basically traded all the way to halftime, us down 6-7. They had 2-3 solid handlers, and their cutters, while not amazing, made smart cuts. We scored right out of half, then broke them a few times before trading to the end of the game. 13-11 Jive. Some highlights: Jake/Veins skying people left and right, huge hucks from ducksworth, and i have to give myself credit for a 25 yard hammer upwind. Also, we set the tone defensively for the weekend with solid zone D and a handful of layout ds. While the score appeared close, it was really us not being used to playing outside then them being better than us. It was still good to get the blood flowing and I think we were in the right mindset for game 2.

Game 2: JMU
I think this is the game we played best in all weekend. We came in fired up and really took it to the Hellfish all game. They had a couple of studs, but their deep game was not clicking and our O and D was. While it was close at the beginning, with us trading points to about 3-3, but after a massive layout D by the SUZEEE we took half something like 7-4 and won 13-6. Highlights: Matts assist to Timbo during which our whole team collectively held our breath, Space laying out fully more than once for the first time EVERRR, Susie's huge ridiculously blady huck to the gut-man and Jacko scoring something like 6-7 goals.

Game 3: Mary Washington
While Mary Wash had a couple of kids who could play, they were definitely more about fun. We kept out lines relatively open for most of the game, and despite them putting up some solid points, we were just too much when we actually had a line in. 13-6 Jive. Highlights include some solid D by our freshmen, and our handlers running their D with uplines all day.

Game 4: Delaware X (B)
So it turns out Delaware brought their B team with a couple of A teamers thrown in for experience while the rest of their A team went to Mardi Gras to drink. Definitely not a team worthy of the 2nd seed. While they were enthusiastic, and cool guys, they just did not have the personnel to compete with the zone we kept throwing on them. A little bragging, highlight of the game would have to go to my layout callahan off a trap swing in zone. We win 13-3. After this game, we did play a rousing game of detonator, as well as watched Timbo whoop some kid in a shotgun off, which is always awesome to watch.

After stretching and talking for a little, we went out to a pretty delicious Chinese buffet before checking into our hotel for showers, naps and pregaming before the party. We watched some Forrest Gump, played Jeopardy, drank some Joose and Four Loko. Then a few of us hopped in a van (thanks matt for taking the hit and driving) to the party. JMU had rented out this lodge/cabin in the middle of nowhere for the party. Coming from a school where a 50 person party doesnt happen very often, nor does it usually last very long before getting broken up, this was a rager. There were about 200 frisbee players there getting after it. The main room was dominated by the band stage/mosh pit, while onlookers could go up to the balcony and play ruit and watch the goings on. The back hallway/room had a couple of ice luges, a huge stack of kegs, and couches and stuff to chill on. AWESOME! While the poons played ruit, we quickly realized that if you had a pitcher, you were assumed to need it for something so could bypass all lines for beer. Thus, Wiechec and I acquired one for our personal needs. No one around us had to wait for beer. Making friends is a lot easier when you have a full pitcher to share. Everything was going great until Merlin decided to "accidently" swat the whole thing all over Space and I. This just compounded our frustrations with the self proclaimed "Dynasty", as even their cool kids can suck. Anyway, by 1230 it was time to head back. After taco bell and some drunken chilling, I passed out in between beds. After waking up next to Timbo of all people, the Jive Turkeys proceeded to rally, get some bagels (phenomenal) and be at the fields ready to face our opponent for the quarter finals, NYU.

Quarters
So we hung out with NYU at High Tide a couple years ago, and despite one of them puking on the floor of our house they seemed like pretty cool guys. However, the fact that they had a coach just made them seem douchey. The fact that their coach was a dbag made them seem even worse. This game was probably the most intense and hard fought ultimate game ive ever been a part of, besides maybe the RPI game in savannah last year. Sunday the wind was a little stronger, and swirly which meant getting any read on it was very difficult. We went up early, with our zone really flustering them. They only points they scored were on blady bailout hucks or us messing up in transition. However, with us up about 6-4, they went on a run to take half 8-7. Our defense just couldnt stop them anymore, and we had a few costly turnovers on the goaline that they could score easily. At halftime, we really focused ourselves and came out real fired up for the second half. After trading to 9-10, we broke to tie the game at 10s. After a few marathon points and some great D by Tracko and Duckmoney, we traded to 12-12, universe point on cap with us pulling. We pulled came out in zone, got a turn, threw it away, and they put up a huck to the back corner of the endzone in transition. Suze came up absolutely HUGE for a D. We worked it up from the corner, with space, ducks and I resetting like champions, I finally got an upline cut with Jake streaking and put up a slightly swilly backhand that he read and came down with just out side of the goal line. He then swung it and the disc was put in by Mista Colicchio, 13-12 JIVE! We rushed the field jubilantly. Despite a great win, albeit with sloppy O, we had given our all to win. We then realized that we had another game to play, semis against Georgetown who had just won their quarters game 15-3, and had been resting and warming up for the past 45 minutes.

Semis
So when we had last seen Gtown at Cuff, they lost in the semis of tier 2, and did really look that good. However they did seem pretty douchey as well. This had not changed. What had was their size. I don't think they had more than 5 players under 6'1". Also their two tallest players were also their best players. Unfortunate. They were ready to play this game, and we were just too tired from quarters. However we would not go down without a fight. This may have been the first 15-4 game to go to cap. By the end we had opened up lines because our starters were just to tired. Biggest thing that happened in this game was Jack breaking his collarbone, rendering him done for the season. Shit. Also Jakes callahan was saweet.

So with that, we circled, paid our respects to the weekend and headed home. The weekend was a ton of fun, and I was so happy to be back outside with Jive. While there are things to work on, both for me personally (patience and fitness mainly) and as a team, I am so excited for what this season has in store. Bring on NC and Ultimaxx next weekend.