JUNE 15, 2023
By Ryan Maloney

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Week 8 of the AUDL season features a clash between the DC Breeze (3-2) and the winless Montreal Royal (0-5) at Carlini Field in Washington, D.C. The Breeze, coming off a narrow defeat against the Carolina Flyers, are eager to secure a win before a doubleheader road trip next weekend. The Breeze's two losses this season have a combined goal differential of two. Both losses came in closely contested matches against two teams with championship aspirations: the New York Empire and Carolina Flyers. With Montreal struggling to find their momentum, the Breeze are heavily favored in this contest.

Despite the loss in their previous game, the Breeze showcased a strong offensive performance. Going up against an opponent that had consistently scored 20 or more goals in each game, the Breeze held their ground. Impressively, the Breeze maintained a 95% completion rate (266/281) and a 76% success rate in the red zone (13/17). Although there is room for improvement, these numbers are certainly encouraging for the squad. On the defensive end, the Breeze will aim to enhance their break percentage, which was at a low 19% (4/21) in the previous game, in contrast to their recent performances. 

Meanwhile, Montreal Royal has had a challenging last few weeks. Following their loss to the Toronto Rush on Memorial Day Weekend, the Royal suffered a defeat against the New York Empire, 16-10. On top of that loss, they received a resounding defeat against the Boston Glory, 22-12. As they head into this game, the Royal will be seeking any positive momentum that could spark a midseason surge.

With DC having experienced a tough loss against the Flyers, the Breeze will enter Friday's matchup triggered with some fire. Simultaneously, Montreal will be fighting for their first victory of the season. The first pull is scheduled at 7:00 PM EDT on Friday. Tickets are available here.