Ryan Baker

It’s a quick turnaround for the Madison Radicals heading into Rivalry Weekend, as they head into enemy territory for their first date with the Chicago Union this Friday night.

The two teams always put on a show for the fans, but recent history is not on Madison’s side, as they have lost 7 of the last 10 matchups against Chicago. The most notable game in that span was in 2024 when the Radicals knocked them out of the playoffs in a sudden-death classic.

Heading into the weekend, both teams have something to prove. The Radicals are coming off a great offensive performance against the Minnesota Wind Chill, while the Union, despite losing last week to the Indianapolis AlleyCats, still played well.

“Our offense has been showing steady progress,” Head Coach Jacob Spiro said. “That said, the Chicago defense got lit up last week versus Indy, and usually that means they will be primed to make up for it. We should expect their best.”

However, the Radicals will need to adapt, as Sterling Knoche, a key defensive player, will not be suiting up, impacting their defensive strength. Kainoa Chun-Moy, who contributes significantly to the new offensive set, is questionable after tweaking his right shoulder in the Minnesota game. With Knoche out, the defense may take a hit, and someone will have to step up to replace Chun-Moy's production if he is unable to play.

Meanwhile, Chicago faces its own roster challenges. Four impact players are listed as questionable, including Jack Shanahan and Jesse Johnson, who are already out. This situation could give Madison an opportunity to get back in the win column and head into their toughest stretch of the season 3-1.

“We’ve yet to see Chicago at full strength, so it will depend on their roster, but it’s normally a close contest that should come down to who can execute in crunch time,” said Spiro.

Regardless of who is on the field Friday night, it’s going to be a close one. Over the aforementioned 10 games between the two, Chicago averages 19.8 points per game, just edging Madison, which averages 18.6 points per game.

Anthony Gutowsky and Victor Luo have played key roles in the close averages between the teams. Gutowsky averages 3 goals per game against the Union over the last two years, while Luo will bring insight facing his former team for the first time.

“I’ll definitely have some thoughts on the scouting report for the game on Friday, but that will be secondary to the work that the coaching staff is doing when they watch film,” Luo said. “Chicago is a new team this year, but they will always have a good game plan, and we have to be ready to tackle the current team.”

Madison will need more contributors in what promises to be a tight game. Jack Nelson’s strong performance last week was encouraging after a slow start to the season.

“It felt great, my body is finally getting to a point where I am feeling like myself again,” Nelson remarked. “We are really starting to unlock our offense's full capabilities, which is exciting, as there are so many ways for us to be lethal and score.”

Looking ahead, absences could open the door for others to shine. Sam Stark and Gabe Vordick may play key roles: Stark has been quiet this season but could step up on the D-line, while Vordick has been super consistent with possession-saving catches, yet awaits a breakout game. If Chun-Moy is out, expect Vordick to handle the disc more.

There is a different energy around the Radicals this year. They are more patient and more careful with the disc on offense. They average only 15 turnovers per game, the sixth-fewest in the league, and have been playing small ball, which has tired defenses.

When asking Luo about the difference between this year’s team and past teams, he had this to say:

“This team definitely feels motivated not just from a conditioning standpoint but also from a film review standpoint. There’s been a lot of working harder and smarter, which is propelling the team. Obviously, losing isn’t our goal, but it’s really encouraging seeing how guys are analyzing their play and where they can improve, so that we are getting that one percent better each game moving forward.”

If Madison can take the first of the three battles against Chicago and move them to 0-4 on the season, it gives the Radicals a bit more room for error as the season progresses. Still, the team knows this weekend can’t be taken lightly—Chicago is going to see red.

“We know they are looking to jumpstart their season and will come at us with everything they've got,” said Nelson. “We are ready for it and plan to grind them out and take care of business. My thoughts are on getting buckets.”

On paper, Madison is the favorite, but take that with a grain of salt. It’s Rivalry Weekend. It’s the first game between these two this season. Chicago wants its first win, and Madison wants to prevent it. The game will be a phenomenal kickoff to Week 7 and should be a close one.

To watch the game this Friday at 7 p.m. CT, go here!

The Radicals return to Breese on Sunday June 14th to take on the revamped Indianapolis AlleyCats!