Twitter
Facebook
Reddit
Digg
Tell us what you think!Send a letter to the editor about this or any other article in The Maine Campus.
The men and women of the University of Maine ultimate frisbee team, also known as the Frozen Fury, took the field this past Sunday in the cold and rainy weather. The team was able to pull together and finish 3-2 on the day.
The first game of the morning was Bowdoin College, who is always a formidable opponent in the section. Defense was a constant theme with the Frozen Fury as low scores were prominent along with zone defenses and heavy winds. In the game, the Frozen Fury jumped out and took a surprising lead, which led to taking the half. After halftime UMaine began to let the lead slip away. Vice president Russ Clark attributed the loss due to team chemistry.
“We had some flow issues throughout the tournament which we will always need to refine. But it is only the first tournament of the year.”
Bowdoin pulled away with a 12 – 10 victory.
The players of the Frozen Fury suited up for the next game, recent rivals University of Maine at Farmington. Throughout the game, the deep threat wasn’t a viable option for either team with the rain coming down and the winds picking up. Josh Kahn, after an ill-advised high release backhand in the wind, later redeemed himself with ripping the disc out of the air for a completion.
“It was difficult playing in these conditions, but I feel as though the team stepped up and managed to play solid defense throughout the tournament,” Kahn said of the dramatic playing conditions.
Farmington’s handlers ended up being too experienced for the Fury and won the game with a final score of 8 – 5.
Due to the high numbers attending practices, the team was split into both an A and a B team. The A team consisted of more veteran players, while the B team consisted of many first-year students, those who were new to the game and veteran players who came from a local team known as Blackfly.
“It’s a big team, a lot of new faces. It’s exciting to get everyone caught up to speed,” said senior Joe Gaudet.
Although the spotlight was on the A team, the B team fought very hard and ran with every opponent they faced.
After Farmington, the Frozen Fury A team took on University of Maine Presque Isle, which has established a team for the first time this year. By the third game the Frozen Fury displayed what they were capable of, making diving defensive plays, accurate throws and showing the speed of their receivers. Newcomer Peter Strand made many plays that helped the Fury win the game with a final score of 13-4. Strand later went on to receive the most valuable player of the tournament award. UMaine later kept up the theme of winning, beating the University of New England 13-6.
The final game of the team pitted both A and B teams together. The contest was both amicable and intense. The veterans on team B displayed their skills while the fresh legs on Team A attempted to run the opposition into the ground. The match was a solid contention with Team A receiving the win with a score of 13-9.
The Frozen Fury finished with a 3-2 record for the day, having lost two close games. The championship game consisted of Farmington edging Colby College.
“I think this tournament was great for us. I am pleased with the performances of the new guys and cant wait to see what this year has in store for us,” Kahn said.
