The mighty Portland Stags have fallen. In the second cross-divisional game in Major League Ultimate history, the Boston Whitecaps defeated the previously undefeated for the second week in a row. Rightfully so, they claim the top spot in the power rankings for the week and appear to be on a path for a third championship. This was just the beginning of the most active week in the rankings so far this season. The Vancouver Nighthawks notched their first win of the season over the San Francisco Dogfish who now move to the cellar. It marks that every team in MLU history will get at least one victory in four seasons. The Washington D.C. Current also surpassed the New York Rumble and claimed the season series.
#1 Boston Whitecaps: 5-1
Last Week: #2 Change: +1
Who did more celebrating on Saturday afternoon? The current Whitecap team or the 2013 Whitecaps? Another year will go by as the 2013 team being the only undefeated team in MLU history. This was not the first time Boston knocked off an undefeated team either, they did the same to the Philadelphia Spinners last week. With the victory Boston is now sitting atop the league with victories over the arguably two other best teams in the league. At this point in the season, everyone is back for the Whitecaps, including Jack Hatchett (1 goal, 3 blocks), and the squad should be at full strength the rest of the season. The only team remaining that Boston has not beaten is the Nighthawks.
#2 Portland Stags: 6-1
Last Week: #1 Change: -1
Pretty incredible to see this loaded Stags team fall, even if it was to a strong Whitecaps squad. Portland should have learned a lot from this matchup in hopeful preparation for the MLU Championship in July. It did however show the rest of the west how to knock off the Stags. Boston let Portland go deep and often the handlers would take their shots. The Whitecaps however won enough of the downfield battles to limit the Portland offense. Once they got the turn, Boston would punch it in without fail, something the Western Conference has struggled with all season. They become the final west coast team to play an eastern conference opponent.
#3 Philadelphia Spinners: 5-1
Last Week: #3 Change: +0
A bye to recover from last week's tough loss to Boston and prepare for a determined D.C. Current team. For the remaining four weeks they will play D.C. three times and Boston once. All they have to do is win two games to clinch a playoff spot, but Philadelphia wants more. The Whitecaps do not appear to be slowing down so look for the Spinners' stars to return and have a bigger role to ensure victories. They are also to only team in the MLU that has not played a team from the other conference.
#4 Seattle Rainmakers: 4-2
Last Week: #4 Change: +0
The Seattle Rainmakers appeared to have taken away all of the drama in the Western Conference playoff race. A dominating win over the Dogfish has them on the brink of clinching the second postseason spot in the west. A full roster makes Seattle look really good but will have the issue of a conflicting college season this upcoming weekend. The team was so good that their O-line did not turn the disc over until halfway through the third quarter (75% OSE). The entire roster recorded a point in this game except for three players, and one was Clay Dewey-Valentine (15/17 throws). With the Stags losing, there is still an outside shot of Seattle claiming homefield advantage in the conference championship.
#5 Washington D.C. Current: 2-4
Last Week: #6 Change: +1
A lot to talk about for the Current this week. First, we cannot get enough of this play from the star of the team, Delrico Johnson. Interestingly enough it was his only block in the game. Secondly, the team had a big loss with Lloyd Blake (1 goal, 1 assist, 20/20 throws) getting a shoulder injury in the third quarter. If the team were to have a miraculous playoff push they would have to do it with the Mid-season East MVP in a limited role. Third, D.C. has to get it together in the fourth quarter. The Rumble outscored the Current by five in the final ten minutes of the game and just ran out of time to complete the comeback. That would have been the third time the Current gave up a four goal or more lead.
#6 New York Rumble: 2-6
Last Week: #5 Change: -1
It was a long shot for them to make it but the Rumble are now eliminated from the playoffs. The team did feel as if they had a hangover from the cross-country road trip they had to San Francisco a week prior. The team was successful in scoring once they got a turn defensively, just there were too many points that D.C. did not turn the disc over. In the fourth quarter they finally got it back together and almost had a chance to force overtime. They can play spoiler for the rest of the east, and definitely make things a little more interesting. They have a chance to get their best record in the past three seasons if they are able to get one more victory in the remaining two games.
#7 Vancouver Nighthawks: 1-6
Last Week: #8 Change: +1
Last week we mentioned how things were shaping up perfectly for Vancouver coming into a matchup against San Francisco. Then they pulled it all together and came away with their first victory of the season. It was certainly not without controversy (just watch the double overtime period) but nonetheless a win is a win. Could they pull out another win against Seattle at home this weekend? Who knows, sometimes confidence changes everything. The Rainmakers winning this past week officially eliminated the Nighthawks from the playoffs, but this team is more focused on building for the future. More wins just bodes well for next season.
#8 San Francisco Dogfish: 1-5
Last Week: #7 Change: -1
Things have gone downhill fast for the Dogfish. The season started with such promise and the hope they could compete for a playoff spot. Now they have lost five straight games, including two on the road this weekend, extending a road losing streak that dates back to 2013. No one on the squad could pull out a complete weekend seeing the top performers from Saturday's game non-existent on Sunday. Against the Rainmakers the team looked defeated, following their loss to the Nighthawks. Now they go home to rebuild because they still can make the playoffs with games against Seattle upcoming.
Final Thoughts
An exciting weekend in the league will be followed up with a break weekend on Memorial Day weekend. So after this weekend's games catch College Nationals, you might see some MLU players in the action. Only two games will take place as the Current travel to Philadelphia looking for their first victory of the year that is not against the Rumble. In the west, the only game on the docket will be against the two hottest teams in the conference. The Nighthawks (winners of their first game) will host Seattle (the winner of four straight). No matter what happens these games will not clinch or eliminate a team from the postseason.