CENTEX Twenty-ten!

SOL packed up (all but one of) the vehicles and started the long drive down to Austin, TX on Thursday (the last vehicle left on Friday morning). We were looking to be full squad for the first time all year to kick off spring break....

Saturday Highlights
Pool Play Game 1 vs. Northeastern Valkyries
SOL started out strong, scoring a quick point on Northeastern. After allowing Northeastern to trade points, SOL Coach Pat Niles took a time out, to stress the importance of playing our game and not playing down. SOL came out of the time out on a rampage, finding open receivers and pushing the defensive intensity, taking half 8-3. Coming out of half, SOL controlled the tempo, finishing the game 15-7.

Pool Play Game 2 vs. Kansas Bettys
SOL has not seen the Bettys in a while. One of our favorite teams, the Bettys always bring a tough game. Wearing some bomb skirts, the Bettys challenged SOL early, scoring the first point easily. Pat called a time out and looked to start the game over. SOL received and never looked back. Taking half 8-2, and finishing strong 15-3.

Pool Play Game 3 vs. Penn State Isis
Tracie Anderson busted down the field on the pull to start the game off with a sick layout D, translating into a quick score. SOL broke again quickly, causing Isis to call a timeout. During the timeout, the SOL captains challenged their SOLmates to work on three things during the game: defensive intensity, handler movement, and offensive flow. The first point after the timeout, Heather Wroten had a sick layout D on a handler dump. Mariah Dorner and Melissa Brown had multiple layout intimi-D's, really pushing themselves to improve. SOL took half 8-4, and went on to win 15-8.

Crossover Game vs. UCLA BLU
After winning our pool, we went to take on UCLA. In our first matchup against BLU in our program's history, we came out fired up. Sick of being over looked, and under seeded, we decided to take it to this ultimate powerhouse out of the Southwest Region. UCLA's game plan was to play for field position in the intense cross-wind, looking to huck anything and everything. With Robyn Fennig deep to eat up everything that went up and Anna Hettler's fierce mark, UCLA's game plan proved unsuccessful. SOL ate through the UCLA zone on O. SOL's handler line, led by Martha Harris, Iansa Zaldarriaga, Whit Esson, and Beth Wright found the holes and moved the disc up field to our cutters. Anna Hettler and Robyn Fennig's precision hucks found Emy Marier, Moira Farrell, Brit Gartner, Melissa Brown and Melissa Jordan. UCLA tried to man several SOLmates, but SOL went too deep into their roster to really isolate any one player. SOL took half 8-4, and went on to win, 13-6.

CENTEX DANCEOFF!

SOL went first and set the bar with our high intensity difficult dance that we have been working on all semester long. We were apparently awarded some deductions for going over our alloted time and using Lady Gaga. We won, hoisting Martha Harris in the air. We did an encore and it was awes! Youc an check out the dance HERE!

Sunday Highlights
Pre-Quarters vs. Oregon Fugue
SOL came out all guns firing to do some damage vs. the only undefeated team in the nation. SOL started off on D, going down 0-1 off of a quick throw and score point. SOL received and put the next point in, with the score 1-1. SOL went on to get 4 consecutive break points, going up on Oregon 5-1. Oregon took a time out to recollect themselves after a virtually unheard of team was taking it to them and capitalizing on every turn Oregon had. SOL started believing with every break that we deserved to be there just as much as any of the "D-I" teams. Oregon came back on a run. The score was tied at 5-5. Pat called a timeout, emphasizing that just a few minutes ago, SOL had so much fire, intensity, and confidence. Poised, SOL came back to answer. Oregon and SOL traded points, however, Oregon took half 8-7. SOL fought hard, throughout the second half, joined on the sidelines with Women Scorned and Bella Donna cheering us on. Anna Hettler had a sick hand-block on the goal line, to be caught by a SOLmate for a bookends score. Hard cap was blown, and Oregon took the game. SOL 11, Fuegue 13.

9th place Bracket quarters vs. UC-Santa Barbara Burning Skirts

SOL kept the fire going strong coming out 5-0 on the defending national champs. UCSB came out in a relentless 4-man cup zone defense, catching the SOL handlers off guard. Though SOL was up for the entire game, UCSB manufactured breaks, taking advantage of turn-overs close to the endzone. Hardcap was blown, SOL came out on top, 10-9.

9th place Bracket semis vs. Colorado Kali

After sustainaing some injuries to several veteran players, SOL hit a wall of physical and mental fatigue vs. a fired up, skilled Kali team. Kali took control of the game early, and kept rolling. SOL 2, Kali 9.

11th place game vs. Carleton Syzygy

SOL's numbers started dwindling, and fatigue had officially set in. SOL was able to manufacture several breaks, but Syzygy worked the disc up field with their cutters, throwing unphased by the wind. SOL 5, Syzygy 10.

Check out the end of season rankings: SOL is 17th in the nation going into the Series!! SOL is working hard and ready to roll. Alumni Weekend this weekend...SOL skills clinic in the AM. Then we will be having our first ever SOL alum game, alongside our Eauzone Alum game, followed by a SOLzone co-ed pick up game with our alum.