Tuesday, August 3, 2004

Hello from Turku. For those of you who don't know me, it's Kate Bergeron, UPA Board of Directors President, here at WFDF Worlds. Turku. Sandie Hammerly (UPA ED) and I have been following the US teams around for the past few days and today we were with the Junior Boys and Girls. Kyle has asked that I send out an update so that those of you who are not able to attend the tournament can keep up with the teams.

For final standings and score reports, be sure to visit the Worlds site: http://www.wugc2004.org/

US Junior Boys vs Canada

As many of you know, the boys have not faced too much of a challenge up to today. They had overwhelmed many of their opponents, which is probably an understatement. I believe that they thought Canada was up to meeting them, but nobody was sure how good the Canadians were....

The US started the game off with a zone to man defense to stop the Canadians long game. In the light wind, the zone didn't really slow them down much and they quickly went up on the US. (0-1). Sorry, I don't have a roster for team Canada so I won't be able to highlight their top players. Right after the goal by Canada, the US answered with a huck off the pull from Michael Vandenberg to Misha Sidorsky to tie the score at 1-1. At this point, the US pushed hard on defense and with two goals thrown by Will Neff, pushed ahead to a 4-1 advantage.

Here, the US lost a little bit of momentum, there were a couple of throwaways and some reasonably quick conversions by Canada that brought them back to 4-4. Two goals by Canada were thrown by #7, who was one of their more solid players. At four's a connection from Jacob Goldstein to Neff, took the US up by one. They added to that when the Canadians turfed the disc and Evan Johnson connected with Nate Raines (6-4). Canada got the next one on a big hammer throw across the US defense (6-5). A couple of calls during that point upped the intensity of the US team and they buckled down on defense. Team USA took the next three to take it to half, with two of the goals pulled down by Darden Pitts, for good measure. 9-5 USA.

At this point, the US looked to have taken the momentum, and you certainly couldn't have blamed the crowd if they thought the game was going to end as many of the earlier ones had. This was not to be the case. After the half, Canada took two in a row, to come back within two (9-7). An unfortunate drop by Vandenberg gave the Canuks another chance at the endzone.

Canada sensed the momentum to be going their way, but the next two goals were taken by the US. Vandenberg made up for his drop with a nice hammer to Bradley Cochi after a very long point (10-7). The next point was even more hellacious for the US with several throwaways against the opponents solid defense. The Canadians did a superb job matching up against the US shredder offense and you could sense that as the US tired, their cuts were no longer sharp and gave more opportunities for the Canadians to lay out on defense. Finally, the US pulled through and Evan Johnson connected with Sam Roberts on a short 5-yard pass to build a four point lead (11-7).

Here team USA threw a zone at the Canadians. It was a standard three person cup, but with the team's height and Will Neff on the mark, provided a solid opportunity for turnovers. Team Canada was very patient working the disc and scored after a long, but no turnover possession (11-8). Three throwaways and two drops in the next sequence of points gave Canada plenty of opportunity and they converted to tie the game at 11-11.

The US answered back on the next one as Goldstein and Eldon Creer paired up for the score (12-11). Creer made a fabulous catch over two Canadian defenders in the endzone to put his stamp of authority on the point. The US tried zone again, but Canada, ever patient, didn't turn the disc over and we were netted at 12-12. A critical drop by Sidorsky on the next point allowed a quick goal by the Canadians to go up by one (12-13). Since 0-1, the Canadians had taken only their second lead of the game. At this point, they believed that they could hang with the US, but some of sensed that they were getting tired.

Amazingly enough, at this point the Canadians took a time out, and this may have sealed their fate. US coaches Tiina Booth and Michael Baccarini took the team aside and calmed them down. They reminded the team that this was not the end and that they could come back. Team USA came out of the huddle ready not only for the battle, but to win the war. A quick strike from Goldstein to Cochi brought the game back to a tie. Canada answered with a quick goal of their own to go up one again (13-14).

At this point, the game was capped at 16. The first team to get there would have earned the right to be the only undefeated team in the Junior Open division. Feeling lucky again, Goldstein was the "gold man" and delivered the disc to the endzone, where Joshua Torell was happy to oblige with a catch and a 14-14 tie. One more for the US, after each team had a turnover in the subsequent point - Darden Pitts to Cochi for the one point lead (15-14).

Here, team USA pulled on defense for the game. They forced the Canadians into a throwaway (#6), but tragically Will Neff gave it right back to them. Canada couldn't waste the opportunity and punched the disc in for the tie (15-15). As we say in Ultimate the next point was "universe point". This is the thing you train for, your offense lives for, and the spectators drool over.

Team USA had to be a little bit nervous, but they didn't show it. Calmly off the pull they worked the disc down the field. Swinging, resetting, and taking their time. Team Canada didn't give an inch, but the US knew that they wanted it more. Within ten yards of the endzone, the team hovered, looking for their chance. Here, Neff decided he wasn't going to let his game end on a down note. He got the disc, looked squarely into the endzone and hit Torell with a nice leading forehand for the score and the win (16-15).

Both teams fought very hard for the game, and everyone here in Turku expects this to be a preview of the finals.

####################################################################

US Junior Girls vs Japan

What can be said about this team? They are phenomenal. If you haven't seen Rohre Titcomb throw a disc, you really should. She can pull further than most men I know. Wow. And the rest of the team are no slouches either.

For those who have not seen the Japanese teams play, they make up for their lack of height with great throws and precision on offense. If you give them an inch, they will break you all over the field. US coach Vida Towne has plenty of experience with the women from her days with Seattle's Women on the Verge and had her game plan developed early.

The US girls came out strong at the early get go with two quick goals. Titcomb to Nora "Sluz" Sluzas for the first one and on an interception by Jenny Fey, it was Fey to Leila Tunnel for the second one (2-0). Here the US and Japan traded goals, for the US to go up, 3-1. After this, the US put the pressure on Japan. Steady defense of forcing backhand, denying the inside out throw allowed them to go on a run. Emily "E-Bay" Baecher threw (4-1) and caught (5-1) goals as the US had two points without turnovers. The team pushed ahead for three more unanswered goals. The eighth goal came at the end of a "hell" point as there were many, many turnovers by each team (I think I counted 13 total). Kayla Burnim to Sluzas took it to 8-1.

The US went to a zone to man transition on defense and the Japanese worked it patiently to score without turning the disc over (8-2). Lillian Berla and Laura Masullis connected to answer for the US and take it to half time (9-2). The US looked to be firmly in control of the game at this point.

The coaches continued to rotate through the roster and the team worked on their game. They knew Team Japan would not be their toughest match of the tournament, but they wanted to improve. Japan came out after the half with a zone defense. The girls worked through the zone and #21 (sorry, don't have her name) connected with Lillian Berla for the first goal after the half (10-2).

On the next point the US switched to a 1-3-3 zone with Shannon O'Malley on the point. O'Malley showed her foot speed and determination with intense pressure on the mark. She forced a throwaway by Japan, which was tragically returned by a US turnover. Following was an interception down field as Jenny Fey intercepted a long throw by the Japanese handler. Another throwaway by the US gave the disc back to Japan, who promptly sent it back to the US. Finally, the US offense settled down and Baecher hit O'Malley to reward her for the hard work on the mark (11-2).

Throwaways by Maisie Richards and Jenny Fey gave the Japanese enough chances on offense that they finally connected, to put their first goal of the second half on the board (11-3). The teams traded the next two goals as Titcomb hit Georgia Bosscher on a short point and the Japanese endured to score a long point that had several drops by each team (12-4).

Though the US was in full control, there was some fatigue settling in. A ten turnover point was difficult on both teams, as the US emerged with the goal, with a string of Fey to O'Malley to Masulis for the score (13-4).

Spreading the wealth around on offense was the theme of the rest of the game. The final five goals were scored by five different receivers as the US continued to work their options on defense. We saw several looks from "standard" 3:3:1, again the 1:3:3 (1:3:2:1) and also some person defense. The next two points were scored on "zero turns" by the US offense, as Titcomb hit Sluzas (14-4) and then Baecher (15-4) with a bomb of a forehand, about fifty yards.

Two turns by Japan in the next point let Bosscher hit O'Malley in the endzone for 16-4. Japan salvaged looking completely beaten, by scoring the next two goals as one was without a turnover and the other on a throwaway by O'Malley (16-6). On a drop by Amy Smith , a time out then called by Japan may have been ill-advised as it allowed the US to regroup and come out with a four person cup zone right in front of the endzone they were attacking. A block by Smith to salvage her drop allowed Fey to casually hit Tunnell in the endzone for the win (17-6).