Ryan Baker

If this playoff matchup seems eerily similar to last year, you’d be correct. The Madison Radicals meet the Minnesota Wind Chill in Sea Foam Stadium this Saturday night, once again in the playoffs, but this time it comes a round earlier.

What’s not similar is the structure of both these teams. Both squads added key players in the offseason, with Minnesota adding James Pollard and Justin Burnett, while Madison added Kainoa Chun-Moy and Eric Sjostrom.

Madison was the underdog last year, and they’re in the same position this year, but the gap between them and Minnesota is much smaller now. The last game between these two was just two weeks ago when Madison faltered late and lost 13-16. However, there were just a few miscues that ultimately proved to be the deciding factor.

“We are getting too used to being the underdog of late, so it’s not something that’s new for us. We shouldn’t really have a lot of pressure on us for this game other than our own expectations because we, for sure, feel ready to win this game,” said head coach Jacob Spiro.

What that game showed was that Madison is no longer going to quit in the third quarter. They proved that they can pick their heads up and grind out giving up runs. They still have not been able to do so through four full quarters, but they are in a much better position as opposed to the 2024 playoff matchup, where they lost by nine.

“We know Minnesota and Sea Foam well. It's the playoffs, and anything can happen. More than likely, it will come down to a few possessions and a few plays. We've put in the work. We've been getting better and better every game. We don't need any new X's and O's or trick plays to win. It's simply time to show up for the big game,” said Kelsen Alexander.

In terms of the last matchup, Madison threw a zone defense that gave the Wind Chill fits in the first half. The wind died down in the second half, and Minnesota was able to gain some momentum and find the weak spots in the defensive set. We should expect to see some type of zone get thrown at the Wind Chill again.

“The zone operated pretty well the first time we were at Sea Foam this year, but we were still hoping for it to be a bit more impactful than it was. Minnesota seemed to have cleaned up their zone offense since earlier in the season. I still think you’ll be seeing a healthy dose of zone, but likely, with a bit different personnel to help try and seal up some gaps we had in the first go around,” said Jake Carrico.

In both games this year, Minnesota has had poor starts. Madison will need to come out gunning before the Wind Chill can string anything together, because they will figure it out if their offense struggles. It’s just a matter if the Radicals can land some haymakers before that happens.

“We're still a relatively young team that feeds on big plays and momentum shifts. It's all about generating energy in those moments. Everyone on our roster is capable of making a play, and sometimes that's all it takes to completely shift the script of the game. I don't doubt our effort, our talent, or our resilience. If one person makes one play, the team will rally. I want every Radical to believe they can be the spark that ignites the team's energy,” said Alexander.

There have been three guys that have given Madison fits in the two games this year, and those three at Josh Klane, Tristan Van de Moortele, and Bryan Vohnoutka. Klane has seven assists in the two games, Van de Moortele has eight, and Vohnoutka has been notorious for carving up the Radicals’ defense.

If they can stifle those three’s ability to impact the game, they have a real shot in this one. On their own end, the duo of Sjostrom and Chun-Moy in the backfield will need to be at the top of their game.

Madison will also need to find a way to unlock Anthony Gutowsky and Mitchell McCarthy. Gutowsky is a scoring machine, but the Radicals need to give him a couple of opportunities for him to be able to make energy boosting plays. McCarthy started off the season on fire, but has quieted down since. He hosts a major backhand huck on transition offense and is a sparkplug to that defensive line.

“I think the biggest thing for us has to be converting our break opportunities. Each team is going to have their fair share of turnovers, both forced and unforced. That’s just the way things go in Minnesota. But, we have to be converting our break chances at a high level if we want to come away with the first-round upset. We saw in Salt Lake how Minnesota is susceptible to giving up big runs, but also making big runs of their own. The more we can keep their D-lines on the sideline, the better chance we’re going to have of controlling the momentum of the game,” said Carrico.

Expect this matchup to be a close one to the end. Granted, if Madison reverts to the old habits, this one will be over before it starts. However, with the way they’ve played the last few weeks, that seems to be exactly that, an old habit.

“Going into the game last year after winning in double overtime, at home, our first year back in the playoffs, I think there was a feeling that we had already accomplished our mission for the year going into the game. This year’s team has really embraced a mantra of consistent and steady improvement, so it feels more like business as usual this week,” said Spiro.

“Something the old Radicals used to say when the game was on the line was something to the effect of: Don't be afraid of winning. If you like the shot, take the shot,” said Alexander.

To tune in this Saturday at 6 p.m. CT for the first round of the playoffs between Madison and Minnesota, click here!

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