http://scores.upa.org/scores/#college-open/tournament/6568
So this past weekend 14 handsome gentlemen from team Reaper made their way down to the Naperville polo grounds to participate in our first sectionals since our team’s creation in 2007. We came into the tournament seeded 15th overall with the top 7 teams getting bids to regionals. The boys showed up and got a solid warm up going at 8:15 am with games set to start at 9. The day was looking to be upwind-downwind play with approx 20-25 mph wind so we including some zone work in our warm-up.
Game 1 vs. Bradley University
We played Bradley at our tournament the weekend prior so we had a decent idea of what to expect in this game. We came out strong and mostly worked on getting everyone some playing time so as to get used to the wind and working it up. Handlers and poppers did a great job working it up and getting a feel for the weather in this game which I really think helped us in game 2. We broke them up wind multiple times and ended up with an 11-6 victory. Our first win ever at sectionals, not a shabby start! High lights included mike throwing a greatest to Nate which I believe was called back. Low lights include me throwing a Callahan… haha.
Game 2 vs. North Park University
I had the pleasure of practicing with North Park about a week prior to this game so I knew we had some strong competition coming our way. That combined with the fact that North Park has in the past nearly won sectionals and has been to regionals the last 3 years made us quite aware that we had to come out strong if we wanted to compete. North Park came into our game with a loss vs. the 3 seed Loyola which appeared to work in our favor. We won the toss and started with the wind at our backs and the disc in our hands. We converted the first downwind possession and didn’t look back. Our handles did a great job dealing with the NP zone moving the disc off the line often and quickly. Strike cuts to deep puts kept this game in our control the entire time. NP seemed to underestimate our handles ability to huck into the wind, by fronting our cutters, resulting in numerous breaks. We came ready to play and it showed this was easily our biggest win yet as a team taking down the 2 seed in our pool 11-6. High lights included me not throwing a Callahan. But seriously no single play really stood out this game, our entire team played like they wanted this game and it showed on the field. Handlers did a great job dealing with the zone, poppers moved the disc up whenever we could get it over the top or swing and wings did an excellent job exploiting any deep opportunities. Our team has come a long way and it really showed this game.
Game 3 vs. Notre Dame
Steve, Mike, and I had talked about what our game plan was for this game basically as soon as the pool’s for sectionals were announced. Notre Dame is a power house and with only 14 guys we didn’t want to wear ourselves out on game that we couldn’t win especially with Loyola coming up next. Our game plan was to go at them in the first half and if they started to pull away we would attempt to save our legs for the next game. Well then something unexpected happened… we stayed with them point for point. They started with the wind and drew first blood but we stayed on their heels all game. They used an interesting zone with some big fellas in it but our handles once again stepped up and did a great job working it upwind. Poppers in particular really kept this game within reach. Notre Dame would take half by 1 POINT, unbelievable. I believe we were even UP on them a few times in a large part due to mike making a fool out of basically everyone who had the misfortune of marking him. Did I mention he also got punched in the face skying 2 huge Notre Dame Guys? In the end though our defense could not keep up with the speed and efficient offense of ND, every time we would score up wind they would march the disc right back up and answer. In the end we would fall short, at 10-9 going downwind Steve and I had a miscommunication that resulted in a turnover on our end line and ND would convert for the win. Game 9-11 ND victory and our first loss at sectionals; things to take away from this game… we can hang with ANYONE and I mean ANYONE. ND ended up taking Illinois to universe point day 2 and falling short. Despite a key error at the end we nearly took them to universe in pool play, every time ND tried to pull away against us we stuck with them and would respond. Great game against a strong opponent; I can’t help but mention that I guarded a shorter guy on their team who’s job appeared to be to run in massive circles around the field, I must say on his 3rd lap though he did manage to get the disc so perhaps it was a good strategy?
Game 4 vs. Loyola
Loyola is quickly becoming something of a rival to us. All of our games have generally held some key characteristics. Those include, them having twice as many players as us, heated play from both sides, more puzzling fouls/infractions than vs. nearly any other team we play regularly, and us losing every time so far (0-4 I believe between this year and last year). This game was probably the windiest of the day and was clear-cut upwind/downwind play. From what I remember we lost the toss and traded at the start. I believe we broke them first upwind and they answered relatively quickly. We had the slight advantage break wise for most of the game until the very end they just did a great job of working the disc up and beating us on the in cuts regardless of how tight we decided to play it. Our 3man cup became ineffective because of their superb job of making the break throws when they needed and their reliance on gaining yards off handler movement regardless of what we were throwing at them. Some unfortunate and extremely debatable Dark Wing calls upwind including, a swing that basically mowed 2ft of grass on our goal line that they called up and an incorrect call that should have ended up as a turnover (they threw it away on stall 9 that it ended up getting called back because of an away from the disc foul). That resulted in 2 key late-game breaks through us off our game mentally and let this one slip between our fingers. Loyola is a very technical team and in many ways that plays against our style. Our offense got sloppy and couldn’t convert down winders as easily as we should. Dark Wing over Reaper 9 to 11.
Game 5 vs. Western Illinois University
We came into this game exhausted after a tough loss to Loyola. In my opinion western wanted this game more than us and it showed. We won the flip and didn’t hold on to our advantage long in the first half. Eventually we would get it back and basically hold onto a 1 break lead up until 9-9. Western played a very similar game to ours personnel-wise. They had 2 key handlers who weren’t afraid to jack it to a tall and athletic core of cutters. It paid off big at the end when they broke us upwind for the first time in the 2nd half at 9-9 in a game to 11… making it 10-9 with Hysteria going downwind and us not having been able to convert an up winder in a long while. This was the most nerve-racking point of the tournament for me and I think many others felt the same way. If we lost this game there was a decent chance we would get bumped to 5th instead of 3rd in our pool because of point differential and lose any shot at regionals in the process. Then something amazing happened, we worked the disc up a bit past half field and Nate with the disc on the sideline threw a forehand blade to freshman Steve Langyher aka “High Release Steve” who got behind his defender and made the clutch catch 1 step outside the end zone and completed the break to Mike. 10-10 universe point, we had the wind and momentum from the previous play on our side. Mike then threw laser 2 steps away from my defender for the layout score and game, one of my better plays on the day. This was easily one of most clutch games we have ever played Reaper, we made this game difficult on ourselves and it easily could have gotten away from us if we didn’t show that mental toughness in the end and wiliness to not give up and accept defeat even after getting broken and facing an up wind break. Great end to day 1 finishing 3-2 and breaking seed in the pool.
Day 2
We started Day 2 in the 7th place bracket. We would need to win out to get the final spot to regionals.
Game 1 vs. Notre Dame B
We came ready to play. We weren’t going to let the B team in this game after playing Notre Dame A day 1 and losing 9-11. We shredded there zone and took half 8-1 I believe. Even experimented with upwind/downwind lines (we had 14 players). Reaper takes the game 15-3.
Game 2 vs. Rose-Hulman
We have never played RH before so I was looking forward to this game. They had more than few lefties’s and relied heavily on handler movement and strike cuts. We played the first half like the team we were yesterday and it showed, 8-2 Reaper. Then 2 things happened… we slowed down and got complacent and RH got serious. They brought it to within 3 and rattled off a few streaks but the deficit was too great after half. Players stepped up and worked hard to finish it against a RH team that didn’t want to go away and would later end up beating Chicago in the 11th place game 17-16. Reaper holds on and takes the game 15-12.
Game 3 vs. Loyola
A lot of us had our eyes on this game from the start of Day 2. This time there was less emphasize on the rulebook so excuses aside they simply outplayed us. Our D wasn’t a strong enough factor in this game and our O was streaky. Mistakes and poor decisions caught up to us this game, that combined with strong play from Loyola cost us a shot at the 7th place game. We had 20 players signed up on our roster and ended up only having 14 at the tournament, going into next year this is something I hope we can change. Good game Dark Wing 10-15.
Game 4 vs. North Park
At this point we were exhausted and they were coming off a meltdown vs. Wheaton. Steve, Mike, and I walked over and asked if they wanted to play a shorter game but they had no interest in 9th place and gave us the forfeit win.
Recap
We have come a long from going 0-6 at Stanley Cup, our first tournament as a team in 2008. Going 5-3 in our first sectionals EVER and making a great run at regionals. We have the talent and work ethic to make it next year. Losing Dan Niemczyk to the growing alum group will leave some big shoes to fill and require the entire team to step up. I remember when Dan could barely throw a forehand and played his first practice in jeans from what I recall :]. This season Dan stepped up and became a huge part of the team both on and off the field. If anyone needed help with their game Dan was always willing to step up and help make things clear. He worked hard in practice and was often an example for others to follow; he will be sorely missed next year.
Like Mike said at the end of sectionals, stay active this summer. Not all of us have the opportunity to play ultimate on a regular basis but throw occasionally, play sports, get outside, avoid playing call of duty 20 hours a day, and if there is ultimate near you check it out and get ready to dominate come fall.
I have never been so proud to say I am part of this team and wear my jersey. Sectionals was easily the most fun I have ever had playing ultimate and seeing everyone on our team come together and play so well was incredible. We are a small school, we don’t get any support from the university, we are a new team, and we still have done nothing but improve every semester. Even if you weren’t at sectionals you were part of our success and I thank you. If you have ever been to practice and put forth effort you have contributed to the team and helped shape us into what we are. Huge thanks to alums, parents, and everyone that was on the sideline, if your parents/friends came I hope you thanked them because they were great supporters. Be proud of how you played this season. This is our team, it truly is what we make of it… and with that in mind the future is bright Reaper.
-James Roush #2
