April 24, 2026
After a much anticipated offseason, it was finally Opening Night of the 2026 UFA Season, and the San Diego Growlers hosted the Carolina Flyers on Friday Night Frisbee at Mission Bay HS. These teams played an instant classic last year, with the Growlers outlasting the Flyers in a double overtime thriller that consequently punched their playoff ticket and kept Carolina out of the playoffs for the first time ever.
Carolina received the opening pull and held on offense, but San Diego countered with a Daniel Brunker to Travis Dunn score. The teams traded goals and after a Flyers throwaway, the Growlers dialed up their first break of the game when veteran Steven Milardovich carved the disc in to Bryce Lozinski, 3-2. Carolina was patient and eventually held on their next possession, then secured their first break of the game after a San Diego miscue to take the lead, 4-3. First year Growler Brandon Van Deusen tied the game with a deep forehand to Lozinski, but the Flyers took control of the game with a hold and two consecutive break scores to surge ahead 7-4. Facing a sideline double-team, Matt Miller struck back quickly with a single throw score to Marcel Osborne. When they needed a momentum shift, San Diego rose to the occasion after Ben Levinsky’s defensive pressure caused a Flyers drop in the endzone, and Khalif El-Salaam eventually found Will Turner for the break with just 1 second remaining, 7-6.
The Growlers received the disc to start the second quarter and tied the game as Captain Kyle Rubin’s backhand connected with Miller down the sideline. The 2025 UFA assist leader Allen Laviolette got the Flyers back in the endzone with a nice forehand, and Carolina proceeded to rattle off two consecutive breaks again to take a 10-7 lead. San Diego needed to stop the bleeding and got a big forehand assist from Tynan Sander to a sprinting Dunn. The teams traded several scores each, but Carolina scored last in the quarter for a 14-11 lead.
The Flyers committed a critical error to begin the third quarter with a dropped pull, and the Growlers quickly took advantage with an El-Salaam dish to Max Gibson, 14-12. The teams traded goals, then San Diego recorded their second break of the quarter when Brandon Severson assisted to Eli Salmon, 15-14. Both teams settled in and focused on possession with multiple holds on offense until a San Diego throwaway led to a Carolina break, 19-16. The Growlers took their time and eventually scored with 18 seconds remaining with a Gibson to Stefan Samu UCSD alumni connection. The Flyers had one last shot to score before the quarter expired but San Diego’s defense stood tall.
San Diego began the last quarter with a highlight reel play on a textbook boxout grab from Oliver Artus who tossed a short assist to Dunn, 19-18. Carolina was in no hurry and went into clock burning mode to successfully elapse more than 2 minutes before they scored on their next possession. The Growlers had an ill-timed overthrow, and after a Flyers timeout, they successfully burned more clock and earned another break, 21-18. San Diego desperately required a quick score and Artus complied with forehand strike to Brunker down the sideline. Once again, Carolina bled the clock, but first year Growler Max Combs earned a clutch block on a floaty throw upfield with 5 minutes remaining. San Diego did not call an immediate timeout, which came back to bite them a few throws later on a turnover, and the Flyers scored a dagger a couple minutes later, 22-19. The Growlers executed another quick goal, but the Flyers ran out the rest of the clock on their last possession to secure a key road victory, 22-20.
The Growlers were led by Oliver Artus (2 assists, 3 goals) and Daniel Brunker (3 assists, 2 goals) with +5 performances. Travis Dunn (1 assist, 3 goals) contributed a +4 game and Matt Miller (2 assists, 2 goals, 1 turnover) was +3. Next up, San Diego will enjoy a bye, and then host the Atlanta Hustle in the Game of the Week on Saturday, May 9 at Mission Bay HS.
