Crusader

Issue date: 11/11/05 Section: Sports

(The Crusader/Robert Ryan) Zach "Mugs" Donahue gets serious air as he prevents a score against Hampshire.

It was a big weekend for Holy Cross's Purple Heys as they tested their abilities against some the area's best Ultimate Frisbee teams at Sunday's Lemony Fresh tournament. Fighting off sleep and braving the fog, the Heys departed from Hogan at 6:30 a.m. for Warwick, Rhode Island, and a full day of hard play at their second full-team competition this 2005 season.

The Purple Heys faced the talented and well-organized number-one seed of Bowdoin A in their first game of the day. Playing with precision, the Heys' opponents were able to control most of the game as Holy Cross struggled to find their offensive and defensive flow. They fell to Bowdoin A 11-3, but true to the spirit of the game, the two teams mingled afterwards for shared cheers and fun.

The Heys showed marked signs of improvement in their next game against Connecticut College. Despite falling into an early hole, the team regrouped at halftime, splitting into two distinct offensive and defensive lines. Solid play from both squads helped the Heys regain some lost ground, but even this second half surge was not enough to save them from falling to Connecticut, 11-5.

After some downtime, the Heys faced their next opponent, Bowdoin B. Here, the new offense and defense finally coalesced, garnering the team an early lead.

Clutch grabs and serious air from freshman Zach "Mugs" Donahue and senior Craig "Scrappy" Lowell helped the Heys maintain their lead. Even a male opponent wearing a dress was not enough to stop the juggernaut that was Holy Cross Ultimate; they handily beat Bowdoin B, 8-6.

The fourth and final game of the day was huge for the Purple Heys. Playing against the intensity, discipline, and Marxist inclinations of Hampshire's Red Scare, the Heys' skills, both individual and collective, were tested.

The first half score was tight as the teams matched each other practically point for point. The Heys' offensive line, led by senior captains Dan "Gopher" Portnoy and Jack "Handy" Hanlon, showed off their precision and proficiency by scoring quickly virtually every time they were in.

With coaching, encouragement, and solid play from sophomores Corey "LoCal" Evans and Kevin "Big Bird" McCarthy, the D-line both frustrated the Red Scare's offense and contributed some solid points.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools