Ryan Baker

Same game, different location. Last week the Madison Radicals traveled to Minnesota to play the Wind Chill and took another shot to the gut when they lost in the closing minutes. 

It’s, once again, a must-win for the Radicals. Not only do they face a team in which they just lost by one to one of the top teams in the league, but it’s also the “AUDL Game of the Week.” 

This week, the Wind Chill travel to Breese Stevens Field. The Radicals may have the fans at their back, but they are seeing a significant amount of players not suiting up for this one. Sterling Knoche has hit the inactive list once again. Pat Shriwise was suspected to be playing in home games, however is out for this one.

Other notable players that aren’t going to be playing are Avery Johnson, Jack Kelly and Kelsen Alexander. Brian Hart is also listed as questionable as he has been before most games this season. Head coach Tim DeByl is going to have to lean heavily on his hot hands. 

Rookie Sam Stark makes a return this week, and other rookie Anthony Gutowsky is certainly going to see an uptick in playing time. Veterans Victor Luo, Andrew Meshnick and Daniel Garlock will need to step up more than they already have been in this must-win game. 

In the game last week, Quinn Snider, Marco Dregni and Josh Klane seemed to give the Radicals the biggest fits. Snider won’t be on the field this week and Klane is currently listed as questionable, which will be a status to keep a close eye on come game time.

There looks to be a lot less wind in the forecast for Saturday’s game, which puts more pressure on the offenses to execute and the defenses to create more blocks themselves. Meshnick hasn’t seen an issue in doing so for the Radicals, leading the team with seven on the year. 

However, for Minnesota they have three guys at or above that number in Dylan DeClerck and Tanner Barcus both having eight, along with Bret Bergmeier having seven. In last week’s match, there was a combined 48 turnovers. That won’t be the case this weekend, requiring both squads to take advantage of the few mistakes when they do happen.

The key for Madison this week will not only be creating those blocks against a well-rounded Minnesota offense, but getting Kai DeLorenzo going. DeLorenzo has been bounced from O-line to D-line and back to O-line due to specific players being out. He truly can play both sides of the disc.

Despite DeLorenzo playing eleven more points than anyone else on the team, he is only top-three in four categories this season. Hucks attempted, which only four out of the seven have been completed. The other three are hockey assists, assists, and throwaways. Leading the team hockey assists and throwaways, while being third in throwaways. 

Especially after a rough game last week, DeLorenzo will be looking to bounce back in a major way, and if so could help lead the Radicals to an all-important win. 

The rematch between the two will be taking place at Breese Stevens Field on Saturday, June 17 at 6 p.m. CDT. You can get tickets here.