By Avery Martin

Boston Glory remain undefeated after a physical and windy game in Toronto. A strong fourth quarter propelled Glory to a 5-0 record heading into their most important game of the season against New York. 

The way this game would be played was clear from the very beginning. Both teams wanted to score on long, down-the-field action. Boston wanted to use their size advantage, and Toronto wanted to use its speed. 

This resulted in intermediate and short throws being challenged physically at the point of attack, and a lot of physical play on 50-50 discs. That, plus the wind, ensured discs would carry and float in the air. This was a recipe for a physical game. 

Boston started the game hot, with a huck from Sadok finding Dinger on the doorstep, who finished with a short throw to Carapella for the goal to tie the game at 1. Boston then punched in back-to-back breaks to take a 3-1 lead early.

This was the bright spot on a day where Boston struggled to find offensive production from their D-line early on. Boston was able to use that early offensive burst from their D-line to take a 4-2 lead out of a low-scoring first quarter. 

It was all Toronto to start the second quarter, when they were able to score on back-to-back breaks of their own. Justin Podnar found Eric Zhuang for the 61-yard score to even the game at four scores apiece. 

Boston was able to retake the lead when Lander Decraene snagged the disc out of the air over two Rush defenders for a 71-yard score. 

The Glory momentum didn’t last long, however, after evening the score at five, Toronto got blocks on three straight Glory possessions. This defensive master class ultimately ended with a 70-yard score for Toronto on the turn. Toronto held a 7-6 lead with three minutes left to go in the half. 

Boston was able to retake the lead after a huge block by Ryan Dinger ended with Tobe Decraene finding Thomas Edmonds for the score.

In the third quarter, Boston’s offense was equal to this task; they answered an early second-half Toronto score when Tobe Decraene found Orion Cable in the endzone to tie the game at 8-8. 

Cable had four goals on the day; his size was a big difference in Boston being able to play physical and stretch the field. All four of his goals came in the second half. 

The third quarter was a back-and-forth affair with neither team being able to fully take control of the game. Glory was ultimately able to take a 13-12 lead into the final frame. Toronto would have its chance at the biggest upset of the season. 

Ultimately, Peter Boerth would put any idea of an upset to bed early in the fourth quarter. After a clutch block by Rowan McDonnell, Jeff Babbit found Beorth in the endzone to take a two-possession lead. 

Boston was able to keep a distance between them and Toronto for the last seven minutes of the game to improve to 5-0 with an 18-16 win. Jeff Babbit hit a career milestone of 200 blocks in the win. 

The wind was definitely a factor, but Glory put up their lowest point total of the season. They will need to step it up to stay undefeated against New York. The Empire has been converting a historic 73% of their offensive possessions. 

Glory will have their work cut out for them in the battle of East Division titans at Hormel Stadium on June 5.