Ryan Baker, Journalist
The second round of the border battle. UFA Game of the Week. Potential determining matchup for Central Division winner come the end of the season. Those are all potential narratives for the upcoming game between the Madison Radicals and Minnesota Wind Chill in Minnesota on June 22.
Despite all the hype around this game, despite the storylines, head coach Tim DeByl has centered an emphasis on taking things week-by-week and game-by-game. Future-pacing by any team can lead to overlooking their current matchup and not being fully locked in. Madison has fallen victim to that in recent history.
“What we've tried to do is really focus on each game as its own thing and not worry about the narrative. I think we would get caught up in the narrative the last few years and create a lot of pressure on ourselves. This year, we really are trying to take it game-by-game. We're not focused on where we are in the standings or whether we're going to make the playoffs. We're just in this week. We play in Minnesota and that's it. That's the storyline, and it's going to be a great game,” said DeByl.
Thus far, DeByl and his squad has done a good job of focusing on each game as it comes. This has resulted in a 5-2 record, a second-place standing in the Central Division halfway through the season, and a place in the playoff conversation. The Radicals are coming off of a win against the Colorado Summit and have another huge test in their sights.
“In this game and in every other the message is always the same - keep the focus, stay consistent, and make plays for each other. We know our defense has our backs, we just have to keep them out on the field,” said Ted Schewe. “There’s always pressure when you step on to a field in front of an audience. This game really isn’t all that different. Sure, this game affects the rankings, but so does every other game, so why would we think about it any differently?”
It will be tough to not think about this game differently, as Madison will be seeing a different lineup in the Wind Chill than their matchup earlier this year, when they lost 21-17. Matthew Rehder, Quinn Snider, and Brandon Matis will all be absent, but Will Brandt and Paul Krenik are two guys that didn’t play earlier in the season.
“It's easy to adjust around not having their best big guy [Rehder] that we don't have a good matchup for, of course. That's easy. But they have more hands than when they played us before. [Will] Brandt is, I think, one of the best handlers in the league. He's a handful. He's very unique. Having him is another challenge for us that we didn't have to face the first time,” said DeByl.
As for their own lineup, it’ll look relatively the same. They won’t have Pat Shriwise, Mac Weber, and potentially Brian Hart, but Jack Kelly and Max Sample will be playing Minnesota for the first time this year. Traveling to Minnesota and playing at Sea Foam Stadium can be a daunting thing for some players, but the Radicals are ready for it.
“We've actually played well there in the past, unlike other teams who travel to Sea Foam. We're good in the wind and the weather on both O and D. It's not an unfamiliar place to us. We feed off the energy of that stadium whether the fans are cheering for or against us. All the pressure is on Minnesota to repeat,” said veteran Kelsen Alexander.
Look for this game to be fairly low-scoring, as the weather might play a role once again, and both of these teams rank amongst the best when it comes to total defense and defensive efficiency. The key for the Radicals will be what it has been all season: don’t give up runs and stay locked in.
“It's a defensive match-up and both teams are going to go on runs. In part, limiting breaks to just one at a time will help us. We have also started hot, and Minnesota has played well at the end of games. I think building an early lead with our defensive intensity right out of the gate will be key. Also, we've had standout performances from younger players. Obviously the veterans play a crucial role as well, but when our rookies and second-year players are playing like this, we'll be unstoppable,” said Alexander.
A young guy who will need to step up in order for Madison to win in enemy territory is Anthony Gutowsky. Gutowsky was essentially a non-factor against the Summit last weekend, scoring just one goal and only having 85 total yards after being showcased against Colorado’s Alex Atkins. That can’t be the case against the stout Wind Chill defense. This week he is showcased against Bryan Vohnoutka, who gave Madison issues in their previous matchup.
The Radicals are going to need all hands on deck to walk out of the weekend on top of the Central Division. For that to happen, Madison needs to win by four or more to take the division lead over the Wind Chill, due to the head-to-head point differential tiebreaker in the UFA. However, all of those details will be ironed out later in the season, and, as DeByl wants people to know, this week is the focus and nothing more.
“A lot of people may be wondering if the Radicals are for real with three early season wins against Detroit. A win this weekend should shed those doubts. This team is ready and primed for a playoff run,” said Alexander.
To watch the UFA Game of the Week this Saturday at 6 p.m. CDT, click here!
