JULY 22, 2024
By Marley Pope
In the final Game of the Week in the Ultimate Frisbee Association (UFA), the DC Breeze (10-2) shined once more, beating the New York Empire (8-4) on the road for the first time since 2017 by a score of 24-20.
The three-week hiatus and hour-long weather delay did not knock DC off balance, who displayed another lethal performance to ensure a home playoff game and eventually would cement them the regular season East Division title.
14 players scored a goal or had an assist as DC committed just seven turnovers, a top-five performance in league history. Despite losing their best two-way player Cole Jurek, who was scratched due to illness just hours before the game, the team continued without issue.
New York beat up two division winners and championship contenders in the Salt Lake Shred and Minnesota Wind Chill in their last two games, but DC handled the challenge with a perfect 15 scores in 15 red zone opportunities and a nearly perfect performance from the D-line, which converted on eight of nine break opportunities.
Rowan McDonnell reached another milestone, notching his 500th career score and finishing the night with two goals, three assists and 445 total yards. Only Jonny Malks accumulated more yards with 604, while tallying four goals and one assist.
New York’s aggressive defense caused problems in the early going, as the Empire scored two straight breaks to jump out to a 4-1 lead after DC called an early timeout to avoid a stall and proceeded to turn the disc anyway.
After a rough start for the Breeze O-line, DC responded with three scores of their own with a hold and back-to-back breaks. When New York dropped a score in the end zone, the Breeze marched down the field to convert the break chance, tying the game at four with under a minute left in the opening quarter.
DC took their first lead of the game within half a minute in the second quarter with McDonnell posting his 500th score, thanks to a huck assist from longtime teammate Tyler Monroe. The Breeze then turned the game on its head with two straight breaks to lead 7-4. New York looked stunned and called timeout to reset after a six-goal DC run spanning over seven minutes.
Needing any sort of answer, New York got back on track with a score to break a 10-minute drought. The Empire continued their rebound as the second quarter progressed, outscoring DC to cut the deficit to two. However, with time expiring the Breeze quickly worked the disc down the field to Jeff Wodatch, who secured a long throw as the buzzer sounded to put DC ahead 12-9 at the half.
Both teams traded scores in the third period with six each, as DC held their halftime lead. New York could not force a turnover to get back into the game, and both offenses faced little resistance in the quarter with quick possessions resulting in efficient scoring.
To start the fourth quarter, New York converted a break chance, but DC answered with two more scores to maintain their lead. The Breeze kept their head in a game where they started horribly, while trusting their depth to move one step closer to securing a division title.
The Breeze’s D-line showed up again and their eight breaks in nine chances pushed their D-line conversion rate to second-best in the UFA.
The Breeze are third in the UFA in scores allowed and fifth in red zone conversion rate allowed.
With this victory, DC finished off the season with six straight wins and an elite standing across the league. This put the Breeze one more win away from championship weekend in Salt Lake City.
DC will now host the East Division Championship on Saturday, August 10 at 7 p.m. at Carlini Field. The Breeze await the winner of the Boston Glory and New York Empire from the first round of the UFA Playoffs. Tickets are on available at thedcbreeze.com.
