Photo by Jordyn Harris
JUNE 30, 2024
By Marley Pope
In a clash of two of the top teams in the Ultimate Frisbee Association (UFA), the DC Breeze (9-2) cemented their status as an elite team with the obliteration of the Carolina Flyers (6-2) by a score of 25-13 in their final regular season home game.
The Breeze defense locked down a high-flying attack, holding Carolina to a season-low 13 scores in addition to a 38% hold rate and forced 23 turnovers.
DC turned the Flyers' mistakes into points with lightning speed, scoring 14 break goals in just 26 defensive points played with six lasting under one minute.
Jonny Malks capped the dominant win with a career performance, accumulating 646 total yards (400 throwing yards), while adding two goals and four assists.
The Breeze jumped out of the gate to a 2-0 lead before Carolina settled on offense. Rookie Elliot Bonnet returned to the DC lineup after missing the last three contests with two goals in the opening quarter.
With the Breeze leading 5-2 in the closing minutes of the first quarter, a quick two-goal spurt by the Flyers closed the gap to one. With the final possession, DC ended their hot start with a goal by Cole Jurek.
DC’s D-line continued to provide offense with two early breaks in the second quarter to double the Breeze lead to 9-5. The Flyers offense sputtered in the half but once again found an answer to cut the deficit to two with 4:15 left in the first half.
Carolina has rarely trailed this season, and the pressure they faced became evident as the first half continued. A Flyer dropped a pull and gifted DC a free score with 58 seconds left in the half. The Breeze took advantage of Carolina's 10 first-half turnovers to lead 13-7 at the break.
Jurek racked up four goals and 206 receiving yards to lead all players. Miles Grovic and Thomas Edmonds both added a pair of scores from the D-line.
To open the second half, DC pounced on the Flyers and scored the first four goals of the third period, three of which came from the D-line. Their laser-sharp play allowed them to blow the game open, and another buzzer-beating score at the end of the third pushed DC ahead 19-9.
DC was without key offensive piece Tyler Monroe, who is ninth in the UFA with 27 assists. That did not matter as the Breeze dropped 25 goals and maintained a 73% hold rate with eight Breeze players scoring two or more goals.
One of the best teams in the league looked pedestrian after facing the Breeze, shocked at the number of miscues and frustrated by the Breeze’s relentless play on both ends of the disc. Carolina entered the matchup with just one loss on the season and the No. 3 spot in the UFA power rankings.
DC is now winners of five straight with a few weeks off before their regular season finale. The Breeze currently have a full-game lead over the Boston Glory (7-2) for the East Division regular season title.
The team rounds out their regular season with a key division matchup with the New York Empire on Saturday, July 20th. First pull at Trinity Health Stadium in Hartford, CT is scheduled for 6 p.m.