Bridging the gap between the college and club women’s divisions is central to the mission of Philly Fusion. In addition to hosting a women’s club ultimate trade show and a college and club skills clinic, we have also highlighted one or two “games to watch” per round for the enjoyment of the college players and fans. So, in anticipation of the coming weekend, here are a few games we’d like to highlight. If you’ll be in Manheim this weekend, stop by and catch the action!
Round 1 (Saturday, 8 a.m., Field 1)
Scandal v. Hot Metal- Scandal looks rock solid this season and is building on an 11th place finish at the Club Championships. With many players from former powerhouse Backhoe now playing on Phoenix, and Hot Metal and Blue Route emerging from the disbanded 16th place finisher Wildcard, the Mid-Atlantic Region just got a lot more interesting. Hot Metal, comprised of many University of Pittsburgh players and alums, brings a ton of athleticism and excitement to the club level. Christie Lawry is coming off an outstanding college season where she led Danger to the College Championships, and she leads the charge on offense with her crisp throws and great field vision. Amanda Davis, Bailey Moorhead, and many others will make Hot Metal a good bet for an exciting Sunday at Regionals.
Round 2 (Saturday, 9:45 a.m., Field 1)
Brute v. Capitals- This rivalry has developed into one of the best in the game. Last season, the Capitals owned their matchups with Brute… until the semifinals at the Club Championships, when Brute won the final matchup and earned a spot in the finals. This year, the teams have met only once– at Boston Invite back in June when the Capitals were competing as Lotus and both teams were preparing for the World Ultimate Club Championships. Who will have the upper hand in the Northeast this year? Vivian Zayas and Amber Sinicrope lead a capable Brute handling core while Rana Suh and Jess Blanton tear things up downfield. The Capitals will be playing without veteran Alyson Walker, but others such as Danielle Fortin will lead the charge for the Canadians.
Round 3 (Saturday 11:30 a.m.)
Brute v. Showdown (Field 1) Scandal v. Phoenix (Field 2)- Brute ended Showdown’s 2010 season in the quarterfinals of the Club Championships and while the two teams enjoy a friendly relationship and have worked to collaborate to make Philly Fusion happen, Showdown has a lot to prove against Brute. Showdown is led by Team USA member Cara Crouch and all-around standout Sarah “Slider” Blyth. Team GB member Katey Forth won’t be back in action until Sectionals, but this young Showdown squad is ready for battle and looks forward to their first post-Worlds match against their friends across the map. Scandal and Phoenix have duked it out a number of times this season, with the most recent matchup going Scandal’s way. Phoenix will be without captain Lindsey Hack, but co-captains Cate Foster and Leila Tunnell are extremely capable and will lead the troops against their regional opponents.
Round 4 (Saturday 1:15 p.m.)
Capitals v. Bent (Field 3) Hot Metal v. Blue Route (Field 4)- Last year, Bent missed out on a bid to the Club Championships and this year, they have worked hard to continue to build their team. The team has a plethora of threats including Melanie Harvey, Rowan Sill, Megan Randall, and Patricia Funk. The team also features a heavy West Coast contingent that may be familiar to some- Sill, Monica Heger, Claire Storck, Jessie Amberg, and Deirdre Ronaldson. Bent is coming off a 2nd place finish at Chesapeake Open and they’ll be ready to bring their A-game against the Capitals. Hot Metal and Blue Route feature a number of players who qualified for the Club Championships with Wildcard. Wildcard is no more, and Philly and Pittsburgh once again have their own women’s teams. This sectional and regional rivalry is an exciting one– and the game will be played right in the middle– in Manheim, PA.
Round 5 (Saturday 3 p.m., Field 2)
Capitals v. Showdown- Last year, the Capitals beat Showdown soundly in power pool play at the Club Championships, but Showdown got the upper hand against Lotus at Boston Invite in June. Showdown captain Tina Woodings shared some team secrets with the Capitals leadership to get them to come to Philly Fusion… leading to some friendly banter between the teams. Do these teams have what it takes to make it back to the Club Championships after a grueling spring season preparing for Worlds?
Round 6 (Sunday, 8 a.m., Field 18)
Hot Metal v. Showdown- Showdown showed up to Chesapeake with 11 players on Saturday morning (5 players were impatiently waiting for a plane in Dallas) and Hot Metal handed them a wake-up call to the 2010 fall season, beating Showdown in a game that was never really close. The two teams feature a number of Pittsburgh and Texas players that faced off several times this college season, and this matchup promises to be as exciting as some of those matchups were.
Round 7 (Sunday, 9:45 a.m., Field 17)
Capitals v. Phoenix- Capitals and Backhoe have been fixtures in the quarterfinals for the past couple of seasons, and this year Phoenix will attempt to fill the hole that Backhoe has left in North Carolina ultimate. These two teams represent the best of the best in women’s club ultimate and there will be no shortage of excitement in this game!
Round 8 (Sunday, 11:30 a.m., Field 16)
Brute Squad v. Phoenix- Another battle between two of the best teams in club women’s ultimate. Host team Brute Squad faces off against Phoenix, a team headed by a former Brute Squad player, Leila Tunnell. This game promises to be a showcase of everything that is awesome about women’s ultimate- two teams who love the game and who are at the forefront of the growth and development of this sport.
Round 9
Placement Games
