Ryan Baker
It was a game of longer points and mistakes for both the Madison Radicals and Minnesota Wind Chill on June 10.
Madison had traveled to Sea Foam Stadium in Minnesota with hopes to put down a statement that they can not only hang with the best, but beat the best. While they didn’t walk away with a win, they did prove that they are right up there.
The Radicals took another last-second loss, giving them their third loss this season by just a single point. With 35 seconds left in the game, the Wind Chill put one in the endzone to go up 18-17. Then, a drop by Victor Luo with just a couple seconds left prevented Madison from getting off a throw to give them a chance to tie.
The wind was a major factor in this one, hovering around 17 miles per hour most the game. It provided each team with struggles trying to move the disc up-field. There were five different points that lasted longer than two minutes, one lasting four and a half minutes.
The turnovers were also an issue for each team. The Radicals had 25 over the course of the game, 16 of them coming in the first half. Meanwhile, Minnesota had 23 including three drops and 19 throwaways. The rough first half for Madison had them down 8-12 going into the third quarter.
However, a 5-1 run coming out the first half led to a 7-3 third quarter in favor of head coach Tim DeByl’s crew. The Radicals had the game tied going into the final quarter. A couple mistakes including a throwaway from rookie Anthony Gutowsky near the goal line, that would’ve been a break to go up one, led to Minnesota taking the win.
Gutowsky’s inexperience at the pro level finally came into effect in a big moment. Even with the error, Gutowsky led the team in receiving yards and goals with 218 and five, respectively. The rookie leads the team significantly in goals with 18 on the year, with the next most being Jack Kelly with seven.
Daniel Garlock and Andrew Meshnick both added two more blocks to their season totals and continued their masterful defensive play. On the other end of the disc, Kai DeLorenzo had a rough game trying to figure out the wind, throwing the disc away five times.
There were mental mistakes and effects from the wind all game for both of the teams. Minnesota just managed to capitalize on the mistakes just a tad more than Madison. The loss keeps the Radicals at fifth in the Central Division with a 1-4 record.
Despite the porous record, the Radicals are sitting at an even point differential on the season. Showing that they are still in the competition, but are going to have to start coming out on the other ends of the games to be able to make a playoff push.
Minnesota now extends their first-place lead in the division with a 5-1 record. The Radicals are going to get the chance to get immediate revenge and to close the gap on the first-place team when the scene is flipped next weekend.
Execution is crucial, it’s necessary for the Radicals to start winning. Something needs to change and fast with only seven games remaining on the schedule. The Wind Chill travel to Madison to Breese Stevens Field on June 17 for a game time at 6 p.m. CDT.
