Ryan Baker

Madison Radicals started the 2026 season with a slugfest against the Indianapolis AlleyCats. Both teams traded blows, but the Radicals delivered the last punch. They walked away with a 19-18 win.

Head Coach Jacob Spiro said, “The first game of the year against a tough defensive team in the wind, stepping off a 6-hour bus ride, was a resiliency test. It proved to be just that.”

Wind gusts wreaked havoc, and Madison seemed poised to run away with the game early. Indy had costly turns, and Madison scored two immediate breaks. The Radicals nearly went up 3-0 within the first few minutes.

However, turnovers by Madison allowed Indy to tie the game, and it was tied at 4 at the end of the first quarter. It was much of the same in the second and third quarters, but a turnover from Nico Ranabhat gave the AlleyCats a two-point lead halfway through the third quarter.

Entering the fourth quarter, Madison faced an uphill battle. Indy’s deep looks pushed their lead. The tides turned when Sterling Knoche rose up and slapped away the disc. That play led to a Jake Carrico-to-Donte Buckingham break to tie the game.

“I can’t remember specifically what was said, but the gist was that we were right in the game and to stay focused,” Knoche remarked. “I remember telling the D-line it felt like we were in a bit of a lull and it was our job to get some breaks, build momentum, and instill confidence in the fourth.”

With six and a half minutes left, the score was tied at 16. Defensive pressure forced an Indy turnover near the end zone. Gabe Vordick’s layout grab set up a Pieran Robert-to-Eric Sjostrom goal, giving Madison the lead.

Indy tied the game at 18 and threatened to take the lead on the next point, but Victor Luo connected with Knoche with 1:47 left, and Madison gained a power position. The AlleyCats then drove downfield and punched it in with 46 seconds left.

The Radicals executed a methodical final offensive point, ending with a Ranabhat-to-Anthony-Gutowsky goal. The 11-throw possession left only 10 seconds on the clock. AlleyCats sent up a prayer into the end zone, and Max Sample swatted down the hail mary, securing Madison's win.

Gutowsky scored his fifth goal with that final play, earning Player of the Game status and starting his 2026 campaign strong. His involvement in the backfield marked a new development, as he recorded more throwing yards than receiving yards for the first time.

“I’m still slowly trying to work into our new offense, and this was a good first attempt in a real game against a defense that I haven’t played against,” Gutowsky said. “It was a good first game, but there is a lot more to come for the rest of the season.”

Madison's offense maintained calm even against the star-studded AlleyCat D-line. They emphasized disc care and smart throws. Though it was game one, they avoided rushed plays and focused on patience, resulting in a 60 percent hold percentage and a 12/14 clip in the red zone.

Ranabhat led the team in total yards with 474, adding three assists and two goals. Sjostrom contributed two assists and one goal, while Kyle Conniff scored twice in his Radicals debut. Robert also found success, coming second in total yards with 379 and earning two blocks.

Two veterans, Knoche and Luo, made big impacts after missing 2025. Knoche picked up where he left off in 2024, making big plays for three goals and two blocks. Luo had two blocks and two assists in his Radical return.

“Overall, it felt great to be back out there,” Knoche said. “Walking out with a win certainly helps that feeling. Personally, I think I am still shaking off some rust and getting used to game speed and intensity, but overall, I was happy with how it went. After not playing since August 2024, to be candid, I was a bit anxious to see how it would go, but the quality of my teammates makes it very easy for me to get back out there after nearly two years.”

There are still many improvements to be made for this Radical team, as they completed only three of their seven huck attempts and got thrashed in deep space, allowing the AlleyCats to complete 10 of 11 huck attempts. Also, the number of foul calls on both teams made for a rather sloppy game, and that will need to be cleaned up on both ends.

“They gave us a lot of chances, and we squandered a lot of them,” said Kncohe. “I think we should be able to get those numbers up with a little patience on offense. There are also some situational things we need to clean up, as well as focusing and executing our defense game plan.”

Regardless, it was a good first night for Madison, showcasing their new offensive look, leaning more on handler movement and running a more dominantor-type set with some of their most talented players.

“The game felt great to win, but the job is not finished,” Gutowsky stated. “We have a lot to work on and a lot more to look forward to still. It’s all a team effort. I feel like the whole line contributes every point with our new sets.”

Madison and Indy played a chippy game and will face each other three more times in 2026—setting up what could be an electric rivalry. For now, Madison turns its focus to the Pittsburgh Thunderbirds for their second game of the season this weekend.

“It always feels good to win regardless of the narrative, but overall it’s just one game and one out of four with this same matchup,” said Spiro. “We have a lot of cleaning up to do. It’s early in the season, so the list of things to work on is long.

Watch the game highlights here!

The Radicals home opener is May 31st vs the Minnesota Wind Chill!