2nd Annual CUA Alumni Game

It's been raining about three days in a row now, and we are expecting another week or more in DC. No matter, Catholic Ultimate will have it's second annual alumni game. Ahh, The benefits of having a turf field..

We were short on alums this year, but isn't it supposed to be the opposite? I mean, I swear we're graduating kids from this university. We had Templon, Heureux, Gatmaitan, McCafferty, Karpovich, De Martini, Dorsy, and Coach Dave to represent. Broaddus and Taylor, some very good local Ultimate players, stood in to bolster the ranks for a bit as well.

Despite the poor weather, the youth started the game strong, jumping to a 4 point lead. One of these was a turn near the sideline that I picked up. The first thing I saw when I looked downfield was Jess streaking deep with a step on Cafferty. I dipped low and floated a backhand out there for her to run down for an easy score. She's pretty much a menace in any game.

The shut out wasn't meant to last though, and the alums started to hit back with scores by Arin and Sam.

From here on, the game began to build in intensity as the alums began to claw back. Broaddus continued to perform as expected, making a nasty grab across the field and adjusting his steelers cap on the way to the ground. Damon found Templon running deep at a speed unseen by those who've played with him in the past. Cat even managed to give Arin something to chat about with a risky forehand into the endzone for another score. Now they were scoring, but they needed a way to slow the efficient habit offense. They tried a zone...

We always say that we are one of the better poor weather teans out there, but when you combine zone and good weather, we become deadly. The young habit offense kept relatively chilly against the Cultimate zone until I grabbed the disc on a sideline and ripped a crossfield hammer to Kyle for another score. Jake stepped it up on D and got himself a big footblock against throwing wizard, Damon. Habit kept the scoring up through half and took a rest at 8-4.

The second half was another story. Habit opened up its lines a bit and started subbing at will. We assumed we'd be able to close this easily, but the old guys weren't about to be put down quietly. Now that they had a full half under their belts, those old joints were starting to warm up and they started getting comfortable on the field together. Karpo and Templon kept the disc moving smoothly and found Jimmy cutting tirelessly at this point. Dorsy was breaking Habit players across the field and Arin was virtually unstoppable (mostly because I was guarding him.... oops.). Arin also picked up a few huge d's on errant throws, and decided to start a little battle with me with his spike in the endzone.

Although the gap was closing, Jake and Pete held together the handling core, while John, Stills, Jim, and Jess continued to give us open looks. Frodo worked his man for big unders as well, and Paco was torching Gatmaitan for yards as well. We rarely forced the disc deep this game, and instead favored quick hits underneath and big swings to gain our yards. As the game wore on, we got lazy with the disc near our endzone a few times and gave Cultimate some easy scores to gain ground. The game was soon 13-13 in a fight to 15.

We put our best line in, and prepared to walk the disc in. With Pete and I handling, we worked it slowly up field, taking the breaks when needed, and eventually hit Brian in the back of the endzone for a graceful sky that only he could come up with (note the sarcasm). We had high hopes of punching it on on defense too, but we couldn't manage a d, and allowed the alums to punch another score in on us. Another Arin score on me that is... Since he'd just gotten bookends, the battle still continued between us.

Another score and answer later, we were sitting at 15s in a game to 17. I finally found my answer to Arin with an up the line cut that was high and bit out of his reach, after showing him my prize I dished to Pete and found the endzone for a go ahead score. Playing D again, Habit was able to get a turn close to the endzone and close with a score from Pete to Stills. Young guns win for the last time ever 17-15. I think our graduating class this year has something for the young guys next year!

Thanks to all the alums who came out to make this possible!

A recap of the Arin v. Alan battle:
Arin scores on a swilly Cat put and spikes it on Alan.
Alan breaks Arin all day, but that doesn't count for much to Arin.
Arin d's two bad dump passes, counts that as "pwning."
Arin scores breakside, and again on the forceside.
Alan gets over Arin for the up line pass... Shows it to Arin before breaking him and scoring.
Arin gets more scores and d's, but a final score of 17-15 settles it. DHS does not pwn.