Central Regionals 2009

CUT had been working hard since spring term began. The weather had been holding up for us just enough that we have been able to practice outside. The week leading up to Regionals was gorgeous and we all had high hopes for the weekend ahead. With the big tournament FINALLY returning to Carleton after a 3 year hiatus the campus was buzzing with excitement over getting to see CUT finally play. Though the school was excited, the team was dying to make opponents beg for mercy after ruthlessly beating down on each other for 4 weeks straight. As the weekend grew closer the weather report grew drearier, but regardless of weather, CUT vowed to perform at a level not previously seen yet this season at our meeting Friday night. The format was straight bracket with 4 bids to nationals, meaning 3 wins gets us to nationals, and 4 wins CUT the regional title. We all visualized making Hodags cry as we slept in our own beds Friday night.

The day started early with CUT helping to set up the fields at 630 am and with Beloit at 8. Sausage Egg McMuffins outnumbered players on the sidelines as the McDonalds breakfast helped warm CUT’s cold bodies. Beloit stood no chance from the start, and we quickly dismantled them 15-4 with just 1 Offensive turn all game (and no breaks).

Next up was Marquette and once again they just couldn’t match CUT’s fire. The O-line looked untouchable scoring at will, and though Marquette had some talented players, the D-line chipped away at them to chalk up a 15-8 win.

After a bye (where many players took naps in the Rookery, and ate lunch in Sayles) we were faced with our first real test of the UPA Series. Minnesota Grey Duck had put together a solid preseason and we knew they had a lot of talent, but as we warmed up, the sidelines quickly became packed with Carleton fans. Though the weather had claimed it would be cold and raining, the rain held off and it ended up being a beautiful day. We came out of the gates like a racehorse out of the gates. Junior Adrian Chow got an enormous lay out block much to the delight of the fans. Captain Sam Kanner was all over the field shutting down Minnesota’s best player and ripping backhands on the turn, and just like that CUT went up 4-0. Minnesota was not done yet though as they fired right back scoring on O, then breaking twice in a row to make it 4-3. This was the O-line’s first slip of the series but we knew what had to be done. As we’ve talked about so many times at meetings this spring, every team hits bumps; it is how a team responds to these slides that decides greatness. The O line got back on track and we traded to 7-5. With a stacked D-line of ballers, we quickly got the turn and punched it in to take half 8-5. At halftime the crowd kept growing as the sidelines were lined 2 deep all around the field. The 2nd half both teams hit their rhythm, but Minnesota was not ready to handle a fully firing CUT team. The O-line was scoring at will with Senior Jerome Potter playing huge all over the field. Sophomore Grant Lindsley showed that he can play D too getting a huge block on an under to secure one of CUT’s two 2nd half breaks. Minnesota stayed in the game, but they couldn’t put up breaks and CUT went on to win 15-10 securing a bid to nationals. The team thanked the fans for coming, and dispersed to their respective dorms to prepare for the afternoon final against the baby blue Hodags.

Though anything can happen at Central Regionals, one thing is always constant: the weather. Though Saturday was beautiful that just meant Sunday had to make up for it. We awoke to rain, rain, and more rain. There were morning lightning flashes, and it was hovering around or below 50 all day. The finals were pushed back 30 minutes, and moved out of the stadium for fear of ruining the nice grass. CUT used its home field advantage to the fullest as while Wisconsin warmed up out in the cold, we went through our warm up on the stadium track mentally and physically preparing ourselves for the battle ahead. None of us thought the fans would be there in the weather, but apparently we had put on a show Saturday because the Carleton community returned in droves to line the fields for the finals. The crowd was on our side from the first pull to the last. The fields were sloppy from the start with players slipping everywhere and the disc picking up mud weight every turn. Turns came in packs for the first few points as both teams were not quite ready to play in the rain and discs and players were slipping everywhere, but despite the chances, neither team could manage a break and we traded to 2’s. At 2-3 Madison comes down in a poachy zone look, but a soon as the transition is called captain Christ Kosednar took off for the endzone and co-captain Sam Kanner hit him with a monster backhand to make it 3-3. The sloppy marathon points continued to 4’s, when finally the D-line has an epiphany realizing scoring in the conditions isn’t hard with a bit of patience. We worked it all the way up with unders and scored the break to make it 5-4. At 6-5, Madison sloppily turns it on a reset close to the endzone and the D-line immediately starts the fast break. Sophomore Christian Foster gets a quick upline and rips a huge flick to a streaking Kanner to finish the break 7-5. After the point there was a short delay as 5ish Carleton students proceeded to streak the field and do their best impressions of a Hodag. After a Hodag goal to make it 7-6, the O seems to finally be clicking as they score in just 2 throws to take half with the centering pass to Kosednar who throws a bomb to Lindsley for the goal and the halftime lead 8-6. The huddle was filled with excitement as we all knew that we hadn’t yet shown the Hodags what CUT was about. We knew we could possess the disc better and blow the doors to the game wide open. After half there was a bit of a scare as the O-line hiccupped turning it on a misthrown swing and giving up the quick break. The very next point we turned it again around half field via a drop, but the O was not about to let this game slip away as they fought to get the turn and punch it in to make it 9-7. Junior Luke Powers busts ass down on the pull to line up with Madison’s centering handler and comes up with a cluth foot block to give us the disc 5 yards out. Luck is on our side as we end up scoring a stall 9 desperation goal to break for the 10-7 lead. At this point the crowd becomes the 8th man as the Hodags begin to collapse as CUT amps it up. Junior Adam Fagin gets a big D to make it 11-7 as the soft cap goes off game to 13. We trade to 12-8, and then stack our D for one last point. The Hodags were simply not ready for a line of so many studs and after looking for 8 seconds of no openings punted the disc away. The D-line worked it patiently and efficiently, and finally Fagin hit Powers on a quick upline for the score and the win. CUT wins the Central Region for the first time since 2005.

The Hodags finished 2nd, Luther took the 3rd bid, and Minnesota the final spot to nationals. Syzgy lost to Madison in the finals but secured the 2 seed to natties as well. News trickled down to the fields that Florida had not qualified for nationals and that Oregon was being disqualified from the series due to a little nudity. Everyone was shocked to hear the news, but unconcerned with the competition that lies ahead.

Fun was had Sunday night as CUT celebrated the big victory. After a successful weekend we realized that we saw glimpses of greatness (O gets broken 4 times in Sectionals and Regionals combined), and we realized that more work must get done before nationals. Winning the region should lock up a 1 seed to nationals for CUT, and we as a team are prepared to not disappoint come the big show. Alumni weekend is less than 2 weeks away (6th weekend), and nationals are 2 weeks after that (8th). Kinks are beginning to iron out, and our bodies, still sore from the winter, are finally starting to heal and peak just at the right time.

Nationals, here we come.