2002 Nationals
Semi-finals
Skeleton Crew v. OLD SAG
In the east-coast version of the semi-finals, Skeleton Crew got up early on OLD SAG 4-2. But the quick squirrelly offense of OLD SAG started to wear at the Skeleton defenders. OLD SAG rallied to get up 6-5 but then gave up the tying goal. With score at 6's, Skeleton Crew had a huge D but then skittishly turned it over immediately on an ill-advised huck. Rick Atkins (#00) from OLD SAG took advantage of the turn and put up a quick huck to Curtis Maier (#100). After a five-minute argument over a contested goal by Dave Dillon (#32), who claimed that he had jumped and caught the goal before landing in the endzone, Dillon agreed to take the goal back. His first throw was D'ed by a Crew player diving in the endzone but again, Crew gave up the disc due to a jittery trigger finger.
OLD SAG scored immediately, taking half 8-6. Crew came out of the half with some fire (perhaps inspired by the multitudes of family and friends on the sidelines including some kids playing with a toy skeleton in a Crew uniform) and tied the game at 8's. But OLD SAG started to run their dominator offense, anchored by the speedy Maier, and Crew could just not keep up. OLD SAG went up first 9-8 then 13-11 ran off the last few points before the fans could get back into it. Some bad calls (as in the other semi, mostly line calls, a sure fire indication that line judges at least are needed in these later matches, no matter how well-spirited the contenders) marred the image of this game, or at least slowed it down for the spectators but again the general tone has remained upbeat and genial. Final score: OLD SAG 15 Skeleton Crew 11.
Masters Final
Old and in the Way and OLD SAG faced off this evening in a pool play rematch. When they met early Saturday morning, OLD SAG upset the top dogs in a close game 15-13. But with that loss (their only in the tournament)still smarting, Old and in the Way came prepared to fight. OLD SAG's only real game this weekend was given to them by Old and in the Way, but no one has proven yet that the quick, squirrelly homey-O (a.k.a dominator) that they've been running all weekend is stoppable.
The first half started out with OLD SAG on top - a quick goal thrown by Curtis Maier (#100) made it 1-0 after an unforced turn by Old and in the Way. Steve Mooney answered back quickly for Old and in the Way with a huge huck that put his squad almost in the goal and a few passes later they had tied it up. Maier again showed his dominant speed in the next point, outrunning his offender to the disc and then throwing a hammer to put OLD SAG up again. Another quick goal made it 3-1, but Old and in the Way refused to see a run of more than two points go against them, quickly answering back with one of their own. With the score 4-2 in SAG's favor, Old and in the Way started picking up the pace. The next two points dragged on Ð many turns and hard-fought defensive battles Ð and both turned in favor of Old and in the Way. Picking up another point to cap a three point run, Old and in the Way took their only lead of the first half 5-4.
Despite giving each other many opportunities to decide to be tired, pack their bags and go home, neither team answered those calls. OLD SAG answered back with a couple but Old and in the Way scrambled back, winning another long, drawn out point with many turns. The two teams exchanged points until it was tied at 7's, and then OLD SAG took a quick two points from Old and in the Way to take half 9-7.
Although OLD SAG took the first point of the second half, Old and in the Way refused to give in, scoring two quick ones and then exchanging point until 13-11. OLD SAG didn't use as much of their dominator offensive set as in past games, perhaps trying to save the juice of their big players for the final points. Old and in the Way came back and tied it up at 13's but then seemed to run out of energy, giving up their first three point run of the game to go down 16-13. After an Old and in the Way turn, OLD SAG had the disc for the championship but threw it away in their own endzone. A few quick strikes later and Old and in the Way was right back in it, 16-14. But OLD SAG worked the disc slowly down the field, patiently dumping and swinging in front of the endzone until Jim Viner (#10) found Maier evading the confusion that Old and in the Way defenders were generating up front, and a two foot pass did the trick. A great job done by both teams to keep this game intense and clean to the end!
Final Score: OLD SAG 17 Old and in the Way 14