The Breeze ran into a 2nd determined team in two days Sunday, falling to the Ottawa Outlaws by the same score as Saturday’s loss to Montréal, 27-22. The score was the same, but the game felt very different this time: the Breeze started strong and surged to leads of 5-2, 7-5 and 9-6 before giving up two breaks to tie the game at 9s. From there the better rested 20-player Outlaws team methodically worked their way to a 16-13 lead over a 17-player Breeze squad. The Breeze players didn’t appear more winded than the Outlaws, yet 15%+ more points on average per player than the Outlaws across two hot days of ultimate had to be factoring in somehow.
Most importantly, the Outlaws simply played a well executed game and deserved the victory by any measure, and the Breeze weren’t making any excuses. Rather, the team showered and hopped on the bus to quickly start looking forward to two critical home games coming up over the next two weekends against 1st place Toronto and 3rd place New York, with a 2nd place finish this season still well within reach.
Jeff Wodatch had another standout game for the Breeze Sunday, going 3G/5A with only one throwaway and no drops for a +/- of 7 and Game MVP honors as announced by the Outlaws. Ben Scharadin also had a monster game, sharing top +/- honors at 7 from 5G/4A with two throwaways and no drops. Niether Wodatch nor Scharadin registered a block on the day, but Kyle Johnson led the team with 3 including the team’s 2nd Callahan of the season! Chuck Cantone, Max Cassell and Russ Howd recorded two blocks each to pace the defense behind Johnson. But the play of the game must go to Brad Scott for his outstanding, full-speed layout goal when even the opposing team’s PA Announcer went way out of his way to congratulate him.
It was hot, and game 2 of a two-game weekend, so honorable mention must also go to the biggest workhorses on the day: Wodatch led the team with 32 points played, followed by Rowan McDonnell and Nico Lake with 31, Jon Neeley 30, and Scott 29.
The team arrived back home at about 5am this morning with 5 days to build up for what will be a highly anticipated matchup with Division leaders Toronto. That game is Saturday June 4 at 6:30pm in DC. Tickets Here
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