On Saturday, Sept. 28, the Jillz and Jaxx ultimate frisbee teams opened up their seasons at Smith Memorial Soccer Complex as a part of Union University’s Family Weekend festivities.
The Jillz started the day off against the University of Alabama at Birmingham Ember at 1 p.m. in the scorching 95 degree heat that we have come to know and grow accustomed to in Jackson.
The girls were excited and ready to go, even providing dance moves before throw-off (courtesy of Ash Cioto). Right from the jump, the Jillz were in the zone, scoring 3 quick points to take a 3-0 lead. Then UAB brought it back within 1 point, making the score 4-3. For almost the entire game, there was only a one point deficit.
However, the Jillz made a run towards the end of the game that stretched their lead to three. As time wound down, UAB cut the lead back down to one, but it was not enough as the Jillz won the game 12-11 due to time limit.
Co-captain Emma Cate Hare scored twice and was also a presence on defense with Ash Cioto, while Tori Kersey led the team with four points scored.
“I’m proud of not only how we played, but the attitude and love of the team as we use the game of frisbee as a ministry opportunity,” said Kersey, a junior social work major.
The team has been through a lot since its inception, but their perseverance seems to be paying off.
“I’m really proud of the rookies and the development of the team this year, and I’m excited to see how we will continue to grow this semester,” said Kersey. “A year ago we struggled to have enough players for a game, and now we have grown to win our last game of the season.”
The Jaxx followed the Jillz up in an exciting game against the Vanderbilt Armada. Although the score did not reflect the intrigue of the game, the Jaxx have much to be looking forward to.
The Jaxx came out fast, just like the Jillz, and scored twice to take an almost immediate 2-0 lead. Samuel Vieira scored the first point after a spectacular diving catch to preserve the possession by Tom Verdoorn. After a dropped throw-off by the Armada, captain Sam Drotar scored the second point. Following the 2-0 burst by the Jaxx, Vandy went on a run to go up 6-3.
Throughout the game, there were flashes of promise, including the athleticism of the Green brothers (Caleb and Daniel), majestic diving plays by JD Logan and a beautiful full-field assist by Danny Yurov to Timothy Fletcher. The Jaxx lost the game 15-7, but as mentioned earlier, much promise was shown. This was especially evident in the Jaxx’s newcomers.
The majority of the team are either freshmen or upperclassmen who have chosen to play this year for the first time, so the team is continuing to improve its chemistry.
“Collectively, I felt good about the game despite the loss,” said Drotar, sophomore computer science major. “Vanderbilt is a high quality team and they played well. Lots of our freshmen and new players showed a lot of promise, and I’m looking forward to see them develop over the season.”