One city identified for their diverse cultural cuisine, while the other is recognized for funny looking donuts and food carts. This Saturday signifies the first ever playoff appearance for the Vancouver Nighthawks and the Portland Stags. The first place 8-2 Stags host the 6-4 Nighthawks, 7pm at Lincoln High School in the Rose City. After finishing last place in the Western Conference, can the Portland Stags progress from worst to first and represent the West?
It was Stag time last Saturday in Eugene or was it? Maybe it wasn’t the prettiest performance of the 2014 season for Portland, however the most imperative headline is the victory and not the synopsis. They just escaped the strong winds of South Eugene High School and circus like atmosphere, 13-12 over a prideful Seattle Rainmakers team. Portland allowed Seattle to jump out in front 2-0 before turning on the onslaught with a fury of hucks off Rainmaker turnovers, catapulting themselves for 6 straight goals. The Rainmakers came back with vengeance after a strong 3rd quarter, but Portland put the match in the win column by playing an old child’s game called keep away.
If you thought the Stags had to deal with strong furies of wind, it was very minute compared to the Nighthawks match with the Dogfish at Boxer Stadium. The wind played defensive MVP against both teams, particularly the Western point leading Vancouver Nighthawks. Passes that seemed to be routine were more challenging than eating your weight at Godfather’s Pizza. In games like this, the strategy of the match often changes, while sustaining focus on the objectives and basic principles of Ultimate never does. The Nighthawks were able to pull away with a 3-point run in the 4th quarter, never relinquishing the 17-15 score again for their 4th straight triumph.
The Stags won the season series (2-1) with the Nighthawks. Portland won opening day and then handed Vancouver their first home defeat May 24th at Thunderbird Stadium, negating the Nighthawks’ impressive comeback 19-16. Vancouver paid the favor back to Portland two weeks ago at home, resulting in the clinching match that propelled them to the postseason. It was another toe nail biting contest between the teams, Vancouver took and held the lead with under 3 minutes remaining.
There are many fascinating story lines coming into this playoff battle, no more startling for the Stags then Vancouver’s sizzling 4-game winning streak. Portland has perpetuated success throughout the season, while the Nighthawks are recognized as the hotter, more dangerous team. The Nighthawks pose several threats starting with the explosive Brendan Wong, Gagandeep Chatha, and Mark Leduc. They have combined for 123 points this season. Wong and Chatha will get their production, the Stags need to disrupt handler Kevin Underhill from setting up his teammates. He has completed 319 of 345 throws this season.
After a shootout with Seattle May 31st, the Nighthawks have not allowed more than 18 points in any match. Defensive leader Morgan Hibbert leads this ferocious unit and the MLU with 20 D’s on the season. Portland can’t play conservative against Vancouver, but they also can’t turn the disc over and drop passes like we saw in Eugene last Saturday. Head coaches Quarrel and Knapp have pounded the message of system and smart Frisbee so hard in their craniums that no MRI, X-ray, or CAT scan could ever identify it.
Both teams will take their shots down the field when the opportunity knocks. You could also expect both coaches to pull out all the tricks and show multiple looks, attempting to catch the other off guard. In the culmination of this playoff match, the winner will be determined by whoever demonstrates the more superior fundamentals and least turnovers. Portland is playing with too much confidence right now and every member of the Stags has bought into this system of fundamental Frisbee.
My pick is Portland 23, Vancouver 22.
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