With just under two minutes left in Saturday’s game, Kai DeLorenzo intercepted an errant Wind Chill throw near the Radical’s end zone, threatening to take the lead and beat the Wind Chill on their home turf. DeLorenzo immediately saw a teammate nearby and threw a pass that caught much more air and wind than he had expected, resulting in a jump ball with multiple Wind Chill and Radical players waiting underneath. The clock ticked, fans held their breaths, and the disc lingered in the air, tempting the clump of receivers underneath.
Both teams navigated windy conditions, difficult defenses, high emotions, and plenty of turnovers, exchanging points in a blow-for-blow fashion throughout most of the second half, which led to a dramatic finish that truly felt like anyone’s game.
The Minnesota Wind Chill did not play their cleanest game by any means, with a season-high 23 turnovers. They appeared a bit sloppy on offense, rushing to get the disc into receiver’s hands or floating passes in the wind that couldn’t quite be tamed. On the other side, the Madison Radicals played similarly, though they appeared to almost be a touch luckier than the Chill. Whereas Minnesota’s long game couldn’t ever seem to come together, the Radicals thrived on deep looks thanks to handler Victor Luo and his receiving partner Anthony Gutowsky, who terrorized the Minnesota Wind Chill from start to finish, combining for 626 total yards, 6 assists and 5 goals.
Adjusting the Offense
In the first half of the game, the Wind Chill looked like their normal selves, especially on offense. Defense didn’t get a lot of break opportunities early on — and throughout the entire game, they only converted thrice on defense, their fewest defensive points of the season. The team’s O-line, led by Josh Klane and Quinn Snider most notably, was audibly louder and more in-line with each other from the get-go.
The team was forced to execute tough high-release throws due to the Radical’s double-team, zone, and sideline trap trifecta. For the most part, they handled it well, though it was noticeable that Minnesota’s rhythm could easily be disrupted, which became a challenge throughout the game. But, when they were able to get the disc in the middle of the field, the Wind Chill’s handler set proved to be reliable and patient, working the disc downfield. Small ball was key in windy conditions and against the Radical’s defense. When they executed with patience, they did it well. When they got antsy or felt too much pressure, the Wind Chill looked deep and paid for it.
Icy Competition
Many points lasted multiple minutes due to the amount of turnovers and disc movement. But the Radicals opened up the game in the second half, working quickly on offense and challenging the pace of play that had been set in the first half. Dominating the third quarter 7-3, Madison brought the game back to a tie with 12 minutes to go.
Throughout the game, it felt like a consistent rhythm was hard to find for the Wind Chill. There were a lot of various calls on the field that disrupted play and added a lot of downtime that may have iced the players a bit. The entire game felt a little off and wonky, especially with the amount of Radicals fans in the stands. We definitely got a taste of Breese Stevens field, with loud support for the visiting squad on turns and points.
The game was not without tension, either. Plenty of chirping could be seen and heard from both sides, something that seems pretty common among the border rivals.
“Whenever we play Madison, it’s always a lot closer than we’d like it to be,” said captain Bryan Vohnoutka. “They’re a gritty team, it’s a big rivalry for us, and it’s always a dog fight to the end.”
B-Von, who was named the team’s Player of the Game, showed up big in the matchup against Madison, securing 3 assists, 2 goals, 1 block, and 1 Callahan — the team’s league-leading third of the season, I might add. Crediting the team’s pulls thanks to the new rules, B-Von noted how this year’s squad is focusing on a variety of skillsets to keep in the back of their pocket to pull out wins in any fashion.
And it’s true: halfway through the season, the Wind Chill are looking to be a much more well-rounded team, not winning solely on any one facet of the game. They rank in the top ten in the league in O-line conversion percentage (4th), hold percentage (7th), and completion percentage (5th), while earning 11th place in D-line conversion percentage. In 2022, the Wind Chill saw most of their success on defense, earning top spots in break point percentage and efficiency, while barely ranking in the top 10 in any of the other categories. This season, they aren’t excelling at any one category, but are holding steady at a wide spread of each.
I think at this point in the season, I am still a bit skeptical of the sustainability of those numbers; they hold a commanding first-place spot in their Division, but I don’t know if they necessarily pass the eye test. After watching the Madison game this weekend, and seeing the competition across other divisions, I still think the Wind Chill need to lock down their offense and revamp their defensive pressure they’ve been known for if they want to make their competition sweat come August.
Up Next: Madison, Colorado, and the Second Half of the Season
The disc floated in the air for just a second or two, though it felt like a minute. Players wearing black and white converged under the disc, waiting for the jump ball to come down, finding their team’s hands.
With breaths held, half the stadium cheered in joy as the Kai DeLorenzo’s floater pass did, in fact, find a Radical’s jersey. But after a couple, uh, friendly reminders from the Wind Chill’s sidelines, the officials realized that DeLorenzo had caught his own pass, forcing a turnover that would eventually lead to the Wind Chill scoring the go-ahead goal and holding the Radicals to an 18-17 win at home.
It was amazing and, honestly, a bit embarrassing to see that it barely felt like a home game for the Wind Chill. Breese Stevens atmosphere was prevalent, and at times it felt like Radicals fans drowned out Wind Chill fans. After all, I was the only Wind Chill Talk representative at the game, and the cheers and energy from the crowd were more subdued than normal. It goes to show that energy from the stands does in fact transfer to the field, and it can really help change the tide in the game.
Let’s bring back the energy that Sea Foam Stadium has become known for when the Wind Chill return after a few away games. Their next game at home is on Sunday, July 9th against the Indianapolis AlleyCats. The Cats are second in the Division, and after the next three weeks shake out, that game could be incredibly important and decisive. Show up with us and bring the energy! Stay chilly!
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