CP Secitonal

[Contributed by Sam #6]

I just wanna start out by saying this is the most proud I have been of the ISU Gnomes to date. We came together and put out such an impressive effort, I have never been so excited about the future of our program.

Saturday

Saturday started with two tough fought games against Wheaton and Indiana, the 1 and 2 seeds in our pool. We had to win one of these games to get to the championship bracket. We came out slow in the first game, against Wheaton, and went down 5-1. We started to get things together and pulled to 6-4 by half. We held till 10-7, and an unfortunate turn on a dump by yours truly gave them an easy score to take the game. Our next game, IU, we came out read to play, and battled like crazy in the first half. We hung in, only down one at half, 6-5, by great play and sheer toughness. Our man D kept us in the game, for a change, and we really shocked Indiana, who thought they would have a walk of a game. Indiana tightened up their game after half, and came out really strong, getting a couple of breaks, and eventually winning 11-7. Two great games that showed we can hang with the good teams out there, but that we still have some work to do. The rest of the day we played strong and beat the teams we were seeded to beat, UofI Chicago, Depaul, and Northern.

Sunday

Placing third in our pool required that we win out on Sunday, to achieve our regional goal. Our first game was against the familiar Southern. We played a good, competitive game against them, but our desire to win the four games that we had to play today, and make our first appearance at regionals helped us carry this first game without too much trouble. We won this game 15-10, Game 1 done. In our second game we were matched against the Lost Boys of North Park. We came out strong in the first half, taking a couple of breaks to get up 7-5, but after a well-placed timeout, the Lost Boys made their own run, tying it at 7's. The point from hell ensued. The point to take half lasted about 20 minutes, with some of our highlights being multiple layout under D's, tight marks, and a general toughness to our D that had been lacking all season. However, our O was also hectic and rushed, and for every great D we got, our O gave the disc back, seemingly forgetting that we were throwing in the wind. However, 20 minutes later, our O converts and takes half 8-7. Coming out of halftime, we let give up another break, tying it at 8's. And then another. A few points later, it is 11-9 NP, and we are getting pressed to score goals, as North Park is not giving us as many chances to score as they were early in the game. The game is soft-capped at 14, and NP has GP with a score of 13-11. ISU misses the chance to score downwind, and NP takes the disc all the way up the field, and calls a timeout on the goal line. We come out of the timeout pumped to D up, but NP gets a breakmark score to secure the win. NP 14 ISU 11. Bummer. We play a half assed game against Chicago, but can't summon a good effort with our goal missed, and a lot of our studs hurting from the rough weekend.

All in a all this has to be the best an ISU ultimate team has played. I could not be more proud of the effort, toughness and camaraderie, and I have to say, I am effing pumped for next season. Regionals 2011 Gnomes. Lets get after it.

Chi Invite Recap

[Contributed by Sam #6]

Going into the weekend, we had a well established goal of winning our pool and playing into the championship bracket come Sunday. Goal = Success, even if we didn't get to play it out on Sunday. Despite being ranked 3rd in our pool, congrats on fighting it out and winning the pool Gnomes. Great tournament despite the awful weather. Snow, tons of wind, and freezing cold made for a great tournament.

Game 1: Dayton

The 1st seed in our pool, we had to win this game to have a chance to play into the Champ Bracket. We won the flip, and started with the disc going downwind. An unfortunate drop on a swing gave Ghetto a short field, and an easy upwind break score, giving us a whole to fight out of. We converted every downwind for the rest of the game, no matter how many tries it took. Our Zone dominated their offense, and gave our shaky D-line O all the chances it needed. We went down at half 7-5. After their first downwind after half, 8-5, we had to get going. In the next 7 points, we scored two upwinds, with contribution from everybody. Great handler movement from David and Crack especially, and a sweet point block on the goal to give us another chance at an upwind score. After the horn blew, we scored a downwind to tie it at 10. DGP with the Gnomes going upwind and needing to D up first. Hero line gets a turn and works it up the field, Don catches a goal, Gnomes 11 Ghetto 10.

Game 2: Minnesota State Mankato

We lost the flip in this game, but came out and battled for the first upwind, and after a super long, cold, brutal point, we put in the break. Our zone fought through the developing mud pit for the rest of the game to keep their O at bay, and our upwind O got close a couple of times but couldn't quite connect on another break. The rest of the game we held serve to end up winning 10-7. Killer Whale Shark Whales are born.

Game 3: Hope College

This was our biggest win of the day. Our zone held their O at bay, getting ample downwind chances at scores, and our upwind O put in two breaks, and got close on several more. Highlight of the game was Rob killing their spirit with a layout Callahan. Gnomes win 11-7.

Game 4: St Louis

This game was for our play in to the Champ Bracket. St Louis lost their games in the power pool, and we came into this game riding the momentum of three straight wins, despite mother nature's attempt to ruin the day. We lost the flip for the third straight time, their score the downwind, and our zone gets beat all the way up the field. Down 2-0. Its do or die time, and we load a line to go upwind, which scores at will, plus the downwind, its all tied up again. We put the same line back in, and score another break up wind, and hold back downwind, ISU 4-2. We trade points till its 6-5, with SLU going upwind. This was the closest we got to giving up an upwind point without actually conceding. This point drags on for about 15 minutes, and SLU gets the disc to the goal line and calls timeout. After TO, ISU buckles down in zone and forces a turn. SLU gets to the goal line again, and we play great man, and force a high stall turn. We eventually hold the point and score downwind. ISU takes half 7-5. We come out of half to take our downwind with our O-line and the horn blows. ISU wins 8-5.

Despite Sunday getting cancelled, ISU ultimate plays one of its best tournaments ever. We showed resolve and guts, and never gave up on a point. Active sidelines and great intensity helped us to these wins. Keep working gnomes and we will have days like this come sectionals. Keys to success will be converting on O after our D-line gets turns, and maintaining possession as an O-line. Great tournament Gnomes, now lets go after Huck Finn.