JULY 22, 2023
By Ryan Maloney
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The DC Breeze (9-3) and the Toronto Rush (5-6) clashed on Friday night, resulting in an impressive all-around performance from the Breeze as they gear up for the playoffs next week. It was the final regular-season game for DC. While Toronto had high hopes of keeping their playoff chances alive, the Breeze had different plans and emerged victorious with a dominant 27-17 scoreline.
From the first pull, the Breeze set the tone for the game. They quickly gained a dominant five-goal advantage in the first quarter, leading 7-2. Carrying the momentum into the second quarter, they outscored the Rush by three more goals, taking a comfortable 14-6 lead into halftime. Despite already securing a playoff spot and home field advantage, the Breeze showed no signs of taking their foot off the gas. Ben Oort, facing his former Rush squad, took charge and left his mark with a team-high four goals and three assists, leading the team.
The beauty of the Breeze's performance did not come in the efforts of just one or two players; rather, it was a collective effort from a variety of players. At one point during the match, DC had six players with two goals and six with two assists, showcasing a very balanced attack. New faces in the lineup contributed significantly to the team's offensive and defensive prowess, and the squad built off of that energy. Colin McLaughlin, playing in only his second game in 2023 scored a goal early in the first half and racked up over 100 receiving yards in the game.
“I was happy to have an opportunity to play with this talented and excellent group of people. It felt very normal to integrate new people. It felt like practice but a little easier,” McLaughlin said.
In contrast, Toronto encountered difficulties right from the start. They played right into DC’s strengths, and their break percentage significantly impacted the game's outcome, standing at a mere 6% (1/18). Meanwhile, DC maintained a break percentage of above 50% for most of the game. Toronto's high turnover count also impacted their progress, as their D-Line couldn't find any sort of momentum. On the other hand, DC's O-Line and redzone conversion percentages were nothing short of impressive, at 80% (16/20) and 82% (14/17), respectively.
For the Breeze, this dominant victory serves as a tremendous momentum boost heading into the playoffs. However, for Toronto, it was a disappointing performance, as they continue to strive for their first playoff appearance since 2019. As DC concludes their regular season with this victory, they now turn their focus to regrouping and strategizing for their upcoming matchup with the Boston Glory in the first round of the East Division playoffs. Join us at Carlini Field on Saturday, July 29th at 7:00 PM ET for what promises to be an exhilarating playoff showdown. Tickets are available here.