Photo by Kevin Leclaire – UltiPhotos.com
MAY 5, 2025
By Kyle Turnbaugh
The DC Breeze (1-1) rallied after a week one loss to hold off the retooled Toronto Rush (0-1) on Saturday night at Carlini Field. After a 55-minute weather dealy, strong defense and a much more efficient offense combined to make the difference for the Breeze, resulting in their first win of the 2025 campaign. Returners like Christian Boxley and Tyler Monroe gave the Breeze an offensive edge that they lacked last week, and the team did just enough to get back to winning ways.
For DC, there was plenty to rave about from the win after a week one performance that did not live up to Breeze standards. Boxley immediately returned to elite form in his 2025 debut, throwing four assists and scoring two goals. AJ Merriman was an elite defensive presence, constantly forcing the Rush to question downfield throws and notching two blocks, including a fourth-quarter block on a Connor McHale hammer that led to a crucial break. Monroe made a huge difference in his return, as well, nabbing two goals and throwing two assists. Jacques Nissen was all over the field, completing 63 passes and totaling a game-leading 672 yards.
The first quarter went exactly as planned for the Breeze, as back and forth holds opened the game before the Breeze broke things wide open. A massive block in the end zone from Alexandre Fall sparked the first break for the Breeze, and the first quarter break train continued, as a block from Kevin Healey led to another break off a Zach Burpee scoober to Jace Dean. At the end of the first quarter with less than a minute left, the Breeze held through rookie Graham Turner’s first UFA goal, leaving just five seconds on the clock for the Rush to work the disc down the field. Off the pull, Toronto’s Ty Barbieri launched the disc to about half field, only to be caught by Merriman, who was not exactly pressured by Tom Blasman and wound up a huge backhand that found Fall in the end zone for an exclamation-point break to end the first quarter.
The second quarter was much tighter than the DC-dominated first frame with Toronto’s defense starting to keep up with the Breeze. DC started off with a hold through Nissen, and the squad's much-improved defense continued to shine as Xavier Schafer ran through the disc to pick off a pass from Martin Gallant before the Breeze D-Line methodically worked the disc down the field, finding Luke Rehfuss in the end zone. Holds prevailed throughout the second quarter, as a level of parity was seemingly reached. The Rush notched their first break of the game as time expired in the second quarter, and while the Breeze were up by as much as five goals during the period, they entered the second half with a smaller three-goal lead and Toronto set to receive after the halftime break.
Entering the second half up three goals, the Breeze continued to grind on defense to hold onto their lead. Even the O-Line stayed sharp on defense, as a Nissen block prevented the Rush from breaking, and DC marched down the field to secure the hold in their first opportunity of the half. There were no breaks in the third quarter, but the Rush had their chances. In an almost three-minute-long point at the end of the quarter, the Breeze threw the disc away three times, but the Rush were unable to capitalize before the clock wound down, allowing the Breeze to enter the final quarter up two goals and receiving the pull to start the fourth.
Despite having a fairly comfortable lead earlier in the game, the Breeze did not make it easy on themselves to start the final quarter, immediately giving up a break after a Nissen turnover just 40 seconds into the frame. Toronto’s European talent grew into the game, as Arvids Karklins became a menace downfield, beating seemingly anyone who matched up against him in the air. An unforced throwaway from Boxley led to another break for the Rush, tying the game up at 16 with less than eight minutes to play.
Although the game felt like it was slipping away, the Breeze locked back in and came up with a huge hold, as Nissen found Boxley deep (after a foul call some Rush fans may not love) who then squeezed it between a double team to Gus Norrbom to restore the Breeze’s lead. DC then needed their D-Line to step up to hold onto the lead, and they did through a great block by Merriman that prevented McHale’s end zone-bound hammer. Thomas Edmonds, who played a game-leading 26 points found Isaac Lee streaking down the sideline, who then fired a flick that got deflected but still found Healey in the end zone, giving the Breeze a two-goal cushion with 1:10 left on the clock. The Rush then held in the final minute to pull within one, but it was too little too late, as the Breeze O-Line remained in control on the ensuing point, completing six passes to run out the clock.
This game was much improved for the Breeze with the offense cutting down on turnovers and the defense looking far more aggressive, but they'll need to continue to tighten up on both sides of the disc. The DC squad’s next challenge is not an easy one and comes in the form of a trip to Durham, North Carolina to face off against the Carolina Flyers. We have not seen much of the Flyers, since their game against the Atlanta Hustle was cut short by weather, but if the Breeze bring the same combination of efficiency and aggression, they can challenge any team in the league.
Catch the DC Breeze as they travel to take on the Flyers at Durham County Memorial Stadium on Saturday, May 10 at 6:00 PM ET. Watch live on watchUFA.tv.
