By Noam Gumerman
The Carolina Flyers lost a heartbreaker in double overtime in Atlanta this past weekend to the Hustle, 23-22. It was a tight game the whole way. At the end of the first quarter, Atlanta had a slim 6-5 lead over Carolina. But it was tied at the end of every stoppage of play until the last point of the game. It was 10-10 at halftime, 15-15 after three quarters, 20-20 at the end of regulation, and 22-22 at the end of overtime.
Despite being down early in the first half, the Flyers were just barely ahead for a lot of the second half. The game nearly ended with a Flyers win at the end of regulation, but Atlanta’s Adam Miller came down with a heroic grab to tie the game on a buzzer beater despite blanket coverage from Carolina’s Andrew Li. Carolina then scored twice out of the gate in overtime to take a 22-20 lead in the extra period, and got the O-line out after generating a turnover on the third point of overtime. But Atlanta again responded with a hold and then a break with under 30 seconds to play in overtime. The Flyers worked the disc all the way down to the red zone, but Christian Belus’s attempt at a buzzer beater sailed over the Flyer receivers.
The final point of the game in sudden death double overtime featured more heartbreak for the Flyers, generating a turn on the Hustle’s first attempt to end the game on a huck, working the disc the full length of the field to the attacking end zone goal line before being turned over on a diving hand block on what would’ve been the game-winning score. The Hustle never gave the disc back.
Kevin Pignone led the way for the Flyers with five assists, while Jacob Fairfax had the team lead in goals with six. Belus and Drew Swanson each had three blocks to lead Carolina. Carolina only generated 11 blocks, though, and converted just six of their 23 break opportunities, including that big one at 22-20 in overtime, which likely would’ve put the game away. Moving into the following three games of the season series against Atlanta, Carolina will need to both take the disc away more and punish the Hustle when they do at a better rate.
While losing to their biggest rivals in heartbreaking fashion never feels good, the Flyers get two more shots in a row at the Hustle, the next one being at home this weekend to make amends. And the following week, back in Atlanta, could feature the season debuts of highly anticipated Flyers acquisitions Tobias Brooks and Zeke Thoreson.
