Easily the most interesting weekend on the season for Major League Ultimate. It started off with an unpredcedented decision to give two teams a victory in one game and the biggest comeback in league history with the Seattle Rainmakers scoring eight breaks in a row over the San Francisco Dogfish. Then a crazy matchup on Sunday between the Philadelphia Spinners and Washington D.C. Current saw some of the biggest momentum swings we've had all season. Yet through it all no playoff teams lost and they have obliterated all parity in the MLU. So far this season no non-playoff team has beaten a playoff team and there is only one chance for that to change this year.
#1 Portland Stags: 8-1
Last Week: #1 Change: +0
 | Defeated San Francisco Dogfish 17-11 Weekend Star: Cody Bjorklund (2 goals, 3 assists, 1 block) |
The Portland Stags have now clinched home field in the Western Conference Championship for the third straight year. Will this finally be the season that they hold on and make it to the MLU Championship? The Dogfish were actually able to give them a competitive match after their complete collapse against the Rainmakers the day before. Cracks were shown in the Portland offense who's first hold scoring efficiency was held to 28.6 percent, their lowest of the entire season. Cody Bjorklund, who still was the star of the game, was off his mark only completing 13 of his 19 passes. In the end, a dominant 6-2 third quarter with five breaks put the game out of reach. Bjorklund though has all but wrapped up the league's scoring title with 53 points on the season.
#2 Philadelphia Spinners: 8-1
Last Week: #2 Change: +0
 | Defeated Washington D.C. Current 24-16 Weekend Star: Michael Panna (4 goals, 1 assist, 1 block, 16/16 throws) |
There appeared to be a small crack in the Philadelphia offense this weekend, or perhaps it was just the wind. In either case it did not really matter because their defense produced 14 breaks and forced D.C. to turn over the disc on 73 percent of their possessions. Nick Hirannet proved that he can still show up big when the team still needs him and Billy Sickles continued his campaign for the East MVP. This all happening even with them throwing a Callahan in the second quarter. The win gives the Spinners home field in the playoffs, with them hosting the Eastern Conference Championship and then the MLU Championship taking place at Franklin Field. The home team is 3-0 in the Eastern Conference Championship and has gone on to win the MLU Championship every year.
#3 Boston Whitecaps: 7-2
Last Week: #3 Change: +0
 | Game vs. Washington D.C. Current Cancelled Weekend Star: N/A |
Well the Boston Whitecaps were scheduled to take on the Current after the Boston Area Women’s All-Star game but one problem, D.C. never made it to Boston. Due to the league being unable to reschedule the game before the Eastern Conference Championship Game, both teams were awarded a win. It was an unprecedented move for the league that ended up having no effect on the playoff picture with Philadelphia winning and clinching home field. This is big news for Boston who is 0-1 in the playoffs on the road.
#4 Seattle Rainmakers: 7-2
Last Week: #4 Change: +0
 | Defeated San Francisco Dogfish 22-18 Weekend Star: Khalif El-Salaam (5 goals, 4 assists, 3 blocks, 1 Callahan) |
Should we be impressed with the Rainmakers for their comeback or disappointed that it was a close game? Let’s just be impressed, after all they accomplished the largest comeback (seven points) in MLU history. They went on an eight break run and held the Dogfish scoreless for an entire quarter; all feats that may never be achieved again. Perhaps most impressive has been the consistency of Khalif El-Salaam, who in only four games played this season, has 13 goals, 21 assists and is sixth in scoring in the league. If he kept up this pace for an entire season he would have 32 goals and 52 assists at the end of 10 games, which would shatter the league’s scoring record (64 points). He also surpassed the 100 point career mark in this game.
#5 Washington D.C. Current: 3-6
Last Week: #5 Change: +0
 | Game vs. Boston Whitecaps Cancelled Lost to Philadelphia Spinners 16-24 Weekend Star: Delrico Johnson (4 goals, 1 assist, 1 block) |
The Current were a determined bunch heading into their second road doubleheader of the season. The Spinners though put them into their place this weekend. D.C. showed that for a while that they could compete and even look better than the top team in the East, but all the other times the Spinners defense took over. More times than not the D.C. offense looked completely lost out on the field. Unnecessary turnovers put this game out of reach, further worsening the worst completion percentage in the league at 87.3 percent. There is one final game left at home this year before the team can begin to build back up for next season.
#6 New York Rumble: 2-7
Last Week: #6 Change: +0
 | Bye Weekend Star: N/A |
With D.C. getting a victory over the weekend this will mark the third straight season that the New York Rumble will finish in fourth place of the Eastern Conference. There have been positives for the team though, the team's first (and second) victories on the road since 2013, a Sportscenter highlight, and still the chance for more this weekend. The positives will give the team a good forecast for next season as things look to be coming together for this franchise.
#7 Vancouver Nighthawks: 1-8
Last Week: #7 Change: +0
 | Bye Weekend Star: N/A |
This weekend the Vancouver Nighthawks will have the chance to battle for third place in the West. It will be a winnable game for both sides as they play San Francisco. Vancouver's lone victory came against the Dogfish and the Dogfish's lone victory came from beating the Nighthawks. This has been a rough season for Vancouver and they will be looking to end the season on a high note.
#8 San Francisco Dogfish: 1-8
Last Week: #8 Change: +0
 | Lost to Seattle Rainmakers 18-22 Lost to Portland Stags 11-17 Weekend Star: Taylor Cascino (6 goals, 6 assists, 32/36 throws) |
San Francisco was well on their way to an upset victory in Seattle this past weekend. It would had also been the team's first road victory since 2013. It wasn't a case of the Rainmakers letting them win either, the Dogfish were the better team... until the third quarter. The team failed to score a single point and allowed eight breaks to go off. If you take away that quarter, it was actually the Dogfish's best played game all season. On Sunday they played well against Portland, closer than the score indicates but not enough in the tank to overcome the top team. In addition to Taylor Cascino's performance on the weekend, in a very close second place Gabe Saunkeah threw eight assists and completed 63 of his 64 throws.
Final Thoughts
It went by fast but we have reached the final week of the regular season. For the first time since Week 1 we will see every team in action but these will be more for pride than anything else. The playoff matchups have already been set and home field has already been determined, but this is a formality with any sports league. History can be made though this weekend, if Philadelphia beats D.C. and Portland beats Seattle we will have two teams with a nine win season for the first time ever. New York has the chance to beat Boston for only the second time in franchise history and the loser of Vancouver and San Francisco match will tie the 2013 Stags for the worst season in league history. So who is to say there is nothing to play for?
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