JULY 27, 2023
By Ryan Maloney
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Get ready for an exciting first-round playoff clash on Saturday night, where the No. 2 seed DC Breeze (9-3) and No. 3 seed Boston Glory (7-5) will face off for the third time this AUDL season. The winner advances to the Eastern Division Championship game to face the two-time AUDL champion New York Empire. So far, DC has emerged victorious in both of their previous matches with Boston, setting the stage for an intense divisional matchup. The Glory enters the playoffs with their first-ever playoff berth in just their third season of competition.
DC has been on fire since its loss to the New York Empire back in late June. With production coming from various players and many new faces, the Breeze have won three in a row, culminating in a dominant 27-17 victory against the Toronto Rush in their regular season finale. It was an impressive farewell for head coach Darryl Stanley in his last regular season game.
Looking back at their July 8th encounter, the Breeze easily handled Boston with a 22-15 win at Carlini Field. Christian Boxley stood out offensively, causing numerous defensive issues for Boston, as he tallied five goals with over 300 receiving yards. However, with offensive leader Ben Oort being absent in that game, the Glory will aim to lessen the tandem's offensive attack as much as possible in Saturday’s match.
On the Boston side, all eyes will be on Tyler Chan, who was absent in their last game against Montreal. He’s determined to make an impact in this crucial first-round playoff matchup. While leading the Boston D-line for most of the season, Chan has shown his versatility by playing 30 offensive points compared to just seven D-points in the two games against DC this year. His performance will be a key factor for Boston’s success.
DC will look to lengthen Stanley’s legacy and secure a first-round home playoff win. However, the Glory have had their backs against the wall for over a month now and look to overthrow the two standard-bearers in the East. It should be a fun one. With both teams hungry for a playoff win, this clash promises to be a thrilling battle on Carlini Field. See you Saturday at 7:00 PM! Tickets are available here.
