JUNE 22, 2023
By Ryan Maloney
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The DC Breeze (4-2) head north for a two-game doubleheader weekend to play the Montreal Royal (0-7) and the Boston Glory (4-3) for a crucial weekend on the calendar.
The Breeze and Royal are gearing up for a consecutive face-off this Friday night, adding to the intensity of their divisional matchup. Last week, the Breeze handed the Royal a decisive defeat with a score of 23-14. This win marked the midpoint of the Breeze's season, placing them in second place in the East Division, just behind their rival, the New York Empire (8-0).
Although the final score indicated a dominant performance by DC, the game had its moments of suspense. At halftime, the Breeze held a comfortable six-goal lead at 13-7. However, the third quarter saw a spirited comeback from the Royal, outscoring the Breeze 6-2 in that period. Heading into the final quarter, DC's lead had narrowed to just two goals. Nevertheless, the Breeze rallied and finished strong with an impressive 8-2 scoring run, ultimately securing the victory.
Having clashed on DC's home turf last week, the Breeze will now make the journey north to visit the Royal in their own territory. Montreal, still in search of tits first win, will be eager to turn the tables. In the previous match, Jasper Tom showcased a stellar performance for the Breeze, notching five goals, while benefiting from four assists orchestrated by Thomas Edmonds. Defensively, the Breeze will focus on further improvements, particularly in applying pressure to opposing teams' offenses. Throughout the season, DC's defense has shown remarkable cohesion. A significant contributor to their success is AJ Merriman, who ranks among the top defenders in the AUDL with a total of nine blocks. Impressively, the Breeze's defensive line conversion rate saw a notable improvement from 44% to 59% (13-22) in last week's match against the Royal.
Kicking off their doubleheader, the Breeze aims to secure back-to-back victories against Montreal. The first pull is scheduled for 5:00 pm ET on Friday at the Complexe Sportif Claude-Robillard, promising an exciting showdown.
DC will then travel back over the border for their first contest of the season against the Glory. Boston had an impressive 3-0 start to the season but has stumbled of late with two games against the Empire and an inter-divisional loss to the Atlanta Hustle.
AUDL rookie Simon Carapella has paced their O-line to start the season with 22 goals. The Glory will be looking to take advantage of DC's first and only back-to-back on the season. Record-wise, Boston is the Breeze's biggest competition for the No. 2 seed in the postseason and with it, the right to host a home playoff game in the first round. Of course, DC is also looking to contend with New York for the top seed and the bye, so a 2-0 weekend is crucial for those aspirations.
Following this contest, the Breeze will have played every divisional opponent in the East, as they prepare for their playoff run down the stretch. The Breeze have never lost to Boston (3-0) since the Beantown franchise joined the league back in 2021.
The first pull from Hormel Stadium is set for 5:00 p.m. ET on Saturday.
