Rufio, Rufio, Ruf-i-o! (Hucktoberfest Game Write-ups)

Having the first seed going into the tournament, I was super nervous. First tourney of the year, bringing a super new team with many rookies making their ultimate debut after only a few weeks of practices. We were expecting absolutely terrible weather. People were getting sick all week. I was getting a little worried that more people would end up dropping out...So On Wednesday night, Brit came over and as we were watching Gossip Girl with my super awes roomie Pamela Jean Kaye. We hassled her for a while to come play with SOL at Hucktoberfest. She was wavering, but eventually gave in. I promised her some fun times, and she was totally in.

We pile in the car and pick up Rose and Mariah on Friday night wearing absolutely ridiculously masks from Wal-mart ($2 for both, totally worth it). We roll in super late after stopping in Madison to buy some leggings and other items.

SATURDAY
Game 1 vs. UW-Whitewater Schist

UWW is one of SOL's favorite teams. We love those girls to death, which can be hard to play against some of your friends. SOL brought some good intensity and set the tempo early, playing some good defense. Our offense looked a little stagnant at times, but after half it picked up a ton. The light drizzle had dimished, but the field was a giant mudhole. We had a lot of fun and won it 13-1. I'm really excited to see how Schist develops in the off season. Led by Alex Haroldson and Anni Koci, Schist really has some potential to start a good program. Their numbers are phenomenal, and they have some rookie handlers who aren't afraid to put the disc.

Game 2 vs. Purdue Brickhouse

This game was pretty physical. Melissa "Brownie" Brown was cutting all over the place....absolutely ridiculous. She came from the top rope to make a SICK grab over one of the Brickhouse players in the endzone and maintined the disc through one of the nastiest collisions I've seen in a while. Brownie, completely unphased held the disc and waited for a replacement player to come in and play some D. I love that girl. SOLended up winning 13-2

Game 3 vs. Grinnell Sticky Tongues
The score of this game does not show how good the game actually was. Grinnell had a vet-heavy team, with lots of experience, speed, and patience. They worked the disc really well and had some good handlers. SOL really stepped up its D this game to prevent some scores and preventing the Sticky cutters from getting the disc, making them rely on their handlers. On one point, I hucked the disc FOUR (4) distinct times to Pam "The Tank" Kaye who was streaking deep on quick transitions. With her ultimate career spanning approximately 4 days, she was learning to read the disc. I will let her borrow my library card so she can learn to read. It honestly took us FIVE (5) attempts to finally get it right. In all honesty, I would expect Grinnell to make some noise this spring. They have some good potential to really surprise some good teams who completely underestimate them. Their handlers are solid. Score: 13-2.

Game 4 vs. Lawrence Vici
SOL got some sideline support from the fine young men of Eauzone in our final game of the day. The wind had picked up and we had moved to a different field. Instead of a crosswind, we were faced with up-wind/down-wind points. After briefly running through zone on Thursday's practice, we decided that it would be a good time to work on our zone. It was a little rough, but it is still for sure a work in progress. Estelle Taquet got her first career Callahan in this game. We all rush the field, and tell her how sweet it was. She didn't even understand how epic it really was. Ballin. Score 13-0.

SOL goes home to dry off, warm up, and eat food. And of course...watch Hook (Boomarang Roofio!). The film inspired many a cheer and good times had on Sunday. Brit drove a few of us to the tournament party where fun ensued. Lot's of fun ensued.

SUNDAY
Game 5 vs. Marquette Moxie
Day 2 would be significantly more difficult than Day 1 for SOL, as we would be playing some teams with more experience and intensity. Moxie had played against Club level players at Chicago Heavyweights just two weeks before Hucktoberfest...we knew they would bring a good game, as they always do. We got ourselves fired up and ready to go, got in a good warm up and started our games at Whitewater Middle School after moving field sites. SOL brought the hustle, desire, and quick transitions necessary to come out on top 13-4.

Game 6 vs. Iowa State Women Scorned

Our warm up to get ready for this game was singing, dancing, and shouting to the song "Party in the USA" by Miley Cyrus. Ahhhh. I love ISU. Let's be real. So many SOLmates have huge ultimate crushes on Christine Rosen and Jasmine Draper after our many meetings last spring. We have nothing but love and respect for these girls. The intensity was up for both teams, making fast transitions and making big plays. ISU took half with a score of 7-4. SOL had a great halftime huddle and soon, everyone was completely fired up and ready to go. In my opinion, the most epic play of the game was the collision of Pam Kaye and Gapster of ISU. Gapstur took a huge shot from Pam who was laying out for a disc. Gapstur got the D, stood up and completed a sick huck and wandered off the field in a very dizzy fashion. Lindsey Gapstur played the sickest game I have ever seen her play....and now has to see a chiropractor.

However, several SOLmates picked up their game. Jess Haller was making sick hucks, and breaking marks left and right. Rose Riordan stepped up her D and got some run through D's on ISU's under cuts. Brit Gartner REALLY stepped it up for SOL. Making sick cuts and even sicker throws. She made some huge D's. ISU's split stack offense is smooth and efficient, but SOL was able to put a lot of pressure on their cutters with good marks and great off-disc D. Our goal was to take the disc out of Rosen and Draper's hands, which proved successful. Jess and I got the opportunity to do some cutting, which was super exciting. It really changed the dynamics of our offense and momentum was turned to favor SOL. In a hard fought-universe point game, SOL came out on top.

Game 7 vs. Wisconsin Bella Donna
SOL was riding an adreneline wave after winning a hard fought game vs. ISU. Both teams were missing some huge playmakers, and were rookie heavy for sure. The Bellas were notably missing 2009 Callahan winner Georgia Bosscher; all-region players Emilie McKain, Amber Sinicrope, and Francis Tsukano; and huge presence Sandy Jorgenson. SOL was missing some huge players including Iansa Zaldarriaga, Martha Harris (who has mono), Melissa Jordan, Cole Lence, among the other 4 returners, and rookie Nicole Schlicting. Regardless, I was really excited to see how our new players would match up against the new players for Bella who were finishing up their last round of tryouts. After going down 0-2 against the Bellas, SOL went on a sick run. High intensity D, chill offense, and smart decisions with the disc. Soon, the score was 2-2. Bella always brings a hard game, all cylinders firing, heart and a lot of hustle. Jenny Gaynor was playing some ridiculous D for the Bellas, while Jenny Koll was challenging our D with sick hucks to Bellas in the endzone. It was like something started clicking on the field for SOL in a way that had never really happened before. To see new players, like Brownie getting layout D's on returning Bellas and then booking it deep on transitions, is something that I could not be prouder of. Brownie made some sick grabs, getting some huge air in the endzone, getting the disc over some Bellas in the endzone.

Moria made some sick grabs and was helping to gain huge yards. I think the one thing that helped us come out on top was chill handling. Our handlers were swinging the disc fast and well, attacking holes in the intense Bella zone. This is something that is super uncharacteristic of our handlers. Patience. It was what we lacked last year in regionals. The cool thing is we have a whopping four returning handlers, and only three of us were there last weekend. Our new handlers were chill and confident; it's what helped us break through the zone. Considering we spent approximately 15 minutes at Thursday's practice in the 40 degree rain discussing zone...I was extremely impressed with the cutting and popping from our newbs. Estelle Taquet was consistently finding holes in the zone for handlers to get the disc to her off of swings. SOL and Bella traded momentum changes. SOL was down 10-12, and went on a ridiculous run. Brit Gartner was a layout D machine. I got to do some cutting, and Anna voluntarily handled. We pulled it back to tie it at 12-12. Game point (14-13...) Tracie Anderson gets a quick D and busts deep on the transition. I probably gave her the worst possible put in the world, she lays out for it, and makes the most ridiculous catch I have seen from her.

We had minimal turns and exercised patience. Two qualities that have never been present when we play a good team.

I said this in our team huddle before the championship game: "We can't just be a team that is happy to be here. We need to be a team that can make it here and take it." I feel like we are finally making that transition. This is a new season, a new slate. What we did or did not do last year doesn't mean anything. I am completely excited to see what happens when everyone's teams are full strength later in the season...I can't wait to see what we are capable of doing. It's time to get excited. The car-ride home was proof of that excitement. To hear two new players share their excitement with me about the weekend was an extremely fulfilling experience. Practice this week will be intense, I can guarantee that. Everyone is looking forward to pushing each other hard in the upcoming season, in a way that I have never seen this early in the season. Next stop: No Wisconsequences.