May 9, 2023
By Shaggy Shragis
Another rainy game, another loss for the Philadelphia Phoenix. But Hotbird emotions are anything but somber after suffering a one-point defeat in DC on Sunday. The offense, while not without its struggles, rebounded from a dismal performance in New York. However the story of this game was the defense. Philly tallied 12 blocks, including some spectacular defensive performances, and converted on almost half of all break opportunities. When the game seemed out of reach, the Hotbird D line rallied to bring a match that looked like it was going to be a blowout to one that nearly resulted in a major upset.
Things looked good for Philadelphia early, as they took a 2-1 lead. Then the wheels came off as the Hotbirds got broken on four consecutive points. This included a brutal red zone possession that saw James Pollard pull down another huck in double coverage only for DC’s Troy Holland to get the better of a Sean Mott put to the end zone. Credit to DC’s defense, as the stretch featured two monster layout Ds from Jasper Thom and former Defensive Player Of the Year AJ Merriman. This was a game that featured very few contact calls, and the Breeze adjusted to that better than Philadelphia. Once it became clear that the refs had swallowed their whistles, DC amped up the physicality on the Phoenix cutters, and the Hotbirds struggled to weather the adjustment.
Down 6-2, it seemed a repeat of game one’s disastrous first quarter. With 16 seconds left, and echoes of the late turnover against the Empire still fresh in the minds of Philly fans, it was an unlikely hero who had a play of the season for Philadelphia. Receiving the disc in Phoenix territory Ethan Holmgren, playing in his first ever AUDL game, dumped it and hustled towards the end zone. With just four seconds left, the disc found its way into the hands of Philadelphia’s all-time assist leader: Sean Mott. Mott hurled the disc towards the end zone, but it appeared to be short, until Holmgren leapt and swatted the disc forward another 10 yards into the waiting hands of Max Trifillis. Despite a turbulent first 12 minutes, Philadelphia was down just three.
The momentum did not carry over into the second quarter, as DC notched two straight breaks to grow the lead to 8-3. The game seemed to be unraveling yet again, as a huge bid from Breeze player Luke Rehfuss gave DC the disc with a chance to extend the lead to six. Mike Campanella had other ideas however, with a layout D to win the disc back. Campy bookended the possession with a dish from Max Trifillis. The next possession saw another highlight for Philadelphia, as Paul Owens skied Johnny Malks in the endzone for the D, and Philadelphia worked it 80-yards for a break.
The Phoenix went down 10-5 a few minutes before the half, but an incredible layout callahan from Greg Martin snatched hope back for the Hotbirds. The teams traded holds and with one second left Calvin Trisolini threw it to the end zone, DC knocked the disc into the air, and it settled in the waiting arms of Alex Thorne. The Hotbirds had cut the lead to 11-8.
The Hotbirds scored out of half, capitalizing on a Breeze miscue to pull within two points of the home team on one of Max Trifillis team-high four assists: a blady outside-in flick to Eric Nardelli, who roofed a crowd of DC defenders for the goal. The Phoenix let up two in a row, but then rattled off four straight points, a streak that included two more massive blocks and an assist from Trifillis, an incredible layout D from Justin Keller, and likely the most efficient offensive stretch for Philadelphia during the entire match. The Phoenix were just below 40% for offensive efficiency during this game, yet converted on 4-of-7 opportunities during the run in the third quarter.
Ultimate is a game of runs however, and closing out the third quarter and into the fourth, DC scored on six of eight points, broken up only by a beautiful Jordan Rhyne huck to Pollard and a Justin Keller throw to Paul Owens. With just four minutes remaining, the Hotbirds were back down by four, a 19-15 deficit that seemed insurmountable.
The Phoenix did what they needed to do on the next point: a 27 second possession that ended with a Trisolini huck to Martin to pull back within three. Then Max Trifillis, on his way to an incredible +/- of 9, scored an enormous block and assist for the first Phoenix break of the fourth quarter. DC held and with over a minute remaining were back up by three: 20-17.
Philadelphia needed a goal and they needed one quickly. Enter James Pollard and Greg Martin, who connected for their second time in the match on a cross field shot for a goal in just 33 seconds. Then calamity for DC as Max Trifillis, who had terrorized them all evening, came up with a block moments into the possession, and the Hotbird D-line capitalized for their ninth break of the game. With nine seconds left, Philadelphia was down just one point: 20-19.
Not a lot can be done on defense in nine seconds. But a roller pull out of bounds forced a last second heave from the Breeze, which just barely careened off Jame Pollard’s hands for the block. He got the stat, but collapsed to the ground in frustration, knowing that if he had been able to catch the disc, he may have had enough time to hurl it towards the end zone for another Philly buzzer beater and a chance to tie the game. It was a spectacular play from Pollard, but his body language after the block cut deep, as he seemed to internalize the frustration of losing three straight regular season games by a single point to the Breeze.
This was a momentous turnaround for a Philadelphia team that showed grit and determination, battling back from multiple five goal deficits to tie the game in the second half and having a shot of tying it in the fourth as well. Max Trifillis had a superlative performance, with four assists, a goal, and four blocks: all four coming in the second half during the Philadelphia surge. The defense as a unit had a spectacular game, with several momentous blocks and break percentage of 9/20 (45%), which would have been best in the league last season. The offense, while it had its ups and downs, certainly bounced back from last week, with Martin, Pollard, and Mott all back up to their season averages. The handling backfield of Thorne, Rhyne and Trisolini also had a much better week, although there is still room for improvement for the team QBs. Jordan Rhyne looked more like the Rhyne of 2022 with 343 throwing yards and 2 assists. But Jordan also had a game high five turnovers, including several overthrown hucks one would expect him to connect on later in the season. The future is looking up for Rhyne however, as next week Philadelphia travels to Boston, a trip that last season saw him explode for 836 total yards, 7 assists, and no turnovers: the best Philly performance of the season.
The Phoenix can take a lot away from this game, with each unit demonstrating massive improvements, and several players having impressive showings. They’ll need that confidence boost for the Boston trip, as the Glory game is the first must-win of the Hotbirds season. Stay tuned for the Boston preview coming later this week.
