Northeast Fantasy Preview: Part 3 of 3
On Saturday August 3, the much-anticipated Northeast Fantasy Tournament returns to Randall's Island for its second installment. This preview is part three of three.
Photo by Ana Iherina.
Pool 3
State of the Pool: By far the most physical and intense pool in the tournament, this can be considered the group of death. All five GM's have strong teams, but they will need to rely on all facets of the game to gain a much desired edge. Even though four teams from this pool could contend for playoff spots, they may beat up on themselves too much to have much success later on in the day.
Game(s) to Watch: Jayke vs. Jamie; Jamie vs. Augie. Jayke and Jamie's game may be the game of the tournament, and it wouldn't be surprising if there were more than one trip to the hospital as a result of the physicality and fireworks expected. Jamie vs Augie could be for pool supremacy, while the loser may not be assured of a playoff spot.
Jamie Lafrance's Baby Blue Team
Jamie Lafrance, Keeper, University of Ottawa
Alex Leitch, Beater, Hofstra University
Matt Lowe, Chaser, Emerson College
Sarah Woolsey, Beater, University of Maryland
Kyrie Timbrook, Beater, Silicon Valley Skrewts
Tom Skudlarek, Chaser, Rochester Institute of Technology
Ahmed Al-Slaq, Utility, University of Ottawa
Max Curran, Chaser, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Matthew Johnson, Beater, University of New Haven
Josh Stone, Chaser, SUNY Geneseo
Layla Samandi, Chaser, University of Richmond
Connor Briggs, Chaser, University of New Haven
Patrick Callanan, Utility, University of Rochester
Panya Kroun, Beater, Louisiana State University
Irvin Khaytman, Beater, New York Badassilisks
Ariel Chasen, Beater, Brandeis University
Marie-Hélène Touzin, Utility, University of Montreal
The Team: Lafrance has a defensive all-star team on his hands, and this will serve him well in this bruising pool. Besides himself, he has physical chasers Matt Lowe and Josh Stone, all of whom can also play well offensively. This team has easily the best beater core in the entire tournament, with Alex Leitch, Kyrie Timbrook, Sarah Woolsey, and Ahmed Al-Slaq all being worthy starters on any team. So long as they can all work together seamlessly, as well as balance aggression and defense, they should be unrivaled in the beater game. This team is also blessed to have many of its top athletes also double as seekers, and may call on either Leitch or Al-Slaq to catch the snitches they need to win, with the other still able to provide beater support.
Prediction: This team is built to win the tough games that will be prominent in this pool. So long as Leitch can keep his cool and stay on the pitch, he and the other beaters should cause nightmares for opposing offenses. I see every game this team plays to be low scoring, and snitch catches will make all the difference. I think this team will end up 3-1 and win the pool, but wouldn't be surprised if they lost a tough game to fall to 2-2, yet still made the playoffs.
X-factor: Attendance. Rumors are swirling that Jamie has already lost three players to drop-outs, and depending on whom they are, the dynamic of this team could drastically change.
Jayke Archibald's Neon Green Team
Jayke Archibald, Chaser, Q.C. Boston: The Massacre
Lulu Xu, Beater, Boston University
Katie Milligan, Chaser, Bowling Green State University
Peter Haering, Chaser, Ives Pond/Buffalo Quidditch
Victor Viega, Keeper, Emerson College
Mathew Cardarelli, Beater, Tufts University
Jackson Maher, Chaser, Emerson College
Michael Mason, Beater, New York Badassilisks
Bryan Hall, Utility, New York University
Tim Keaney, Chaser, Hofstra University
Traeger Domoretsky, Keeper, CAMPS
Ryan Blewett, Seeker, New York University
Jaime Colon, Keeper, Hofstra University
Lia Corbo, Chaser, Pennsylvania State University
Grace Bunnel, Beater, University of North Texas
Rose Elienberg, Chaser, Tufts University
Nate Calvert, Beater, Vassar College
Maddy Vogel, Beater, Vassar College
The Team (disclaimer: This is the author's team): Archibald drafted for size in this tournament, and may have the most physical team present. Keepers Victor Viega and Jaime Colon will hit anyone and anything that comes into their path, and should provide tough defense. On offense, they are forces as well, and with chasers Archibald, Tim Keaney, and Jackson Maher, this team has a good blend of speed and size. Jayke went for what he knows in the beater department, which is the duo of Lulu Xu and Matthew Cardarelli, both of whom he has seen in action in the Boston pickup games this summer. These two are both very accurate beaters, but may face trouble from the more aggressive and physical lines elsewhere in the pool. Archibald is relying on Ryan Blewett and Bryan Hall in the seeker game, hoping the bruising nature of these two mimics his chaser line and can outmuscle the snitches. Lastly, chaser Katie Milligan should make the quaffle game the complete package, but she will be expected to log some serious minutes.
Prediction: This team will rely on its strong chaser game to put games away, and hope that the beaters can keep pace on defense. If not, Viega and Colon will have to pick up the slack, and make opposing offenses work hard for their goals. I see this team going 2-2 in pool play, and making the playoffs based on their victories.
X-Factor: The seekers. They will need to work hard to catch the snitches, as they may find themselves going up against opposing beaters who will begin to control the game when the snitch gets back on the pitch.
Augustine Monroe's Black Team
Augustine Monroe, Keeper, University of Texas
Jacob Adlis, Beater, University of Texas
Kody Marshall, Chaser, University of Texas
Kaci Erwin, Chaser, Not Affiliated
Drew Beliveau, Beater, University of New Haven
Aryan Ghoddossy, Chaser, University of Texas
Rob Clifford, Keeper, Rochester Institute of Technology
Danny Mendelson, Beater, Briarcliff High School
Hannah Debaets, Chaser, Tufts University
Cynthia Loufti, Beater, University of Montreal
Derik Wagner, Chaser, India Point Ashwinders
Theresa Buchta, Beater, Hofstra University
Michael Clark-Polner, Utility, Steel City Quidditch Club
Elise Roy, Chaser, Ives Pond/Buffalo Quidditch
Lauren Wexler, Beater, University of Arizona
Eric Newton, Seeker, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Daniel Pecoraro, Beater, Macaulay Honors College
Madelene Fialla, Beater, New York Badassilisks
The Team: Seen by many as by far the strongest team in the tournament, this team will definitely have firepower at the top. Led by the Texas trio of keeper Monroe, chaser Kody Marshall, and beater Jacob Adlis, these three will be looking to replicate the success they encountered at World Cup IV. Yet Augustine spent heavily on his Texas cohorts, with a whopping 660 galleons alone being required to secure their services. This meant that he had to be frugal the rest of the draft, and did well to get players such as chasers Hannah Debaets and Aryan Ghoddosy and beater Theresa Buchta on the relative cheap. After this, however, the team is mainly role players, and it will be interesting to see how they fare when the stars have to sub out. Lastly, Marshall may be called upon to seek, as there is no proven seeker elsewhere on the team.
Prediction: Despite the question marks at the tail-end of the roster, I think the big names on this team can do enough to win, even in this tough pool. They have physicality, they have speed, and they have strong beaters, so there is no real weakness. I do see them going 2-2 however, with losses to Lafrance's Baby Blue Team and either Archibald's or Beloff's team in the cards. They will be fighting these two teams for a playoff spot, and goal difference may be key.
X-factor: The role players. We know what Augie and Co. can do, but how well the substitutes can keep the leads they are invariably handed could spell the difference between success and failure.
Sean Beloff's White Team
Sean Beloff, Chaser, University of Miami
Jenna Jankowski, Beater, Macaulay Honors College
Sarah Holub, Chaser, University of Texas
Samuel Ravelo Jr., Chaser University of Loyola-New Orleans
Andrew Copeland, Beater, Southern Illinois University
Shannon Moorhead, Beater, University of Miami
Aaron Wohl, Beater, Emerson College
Dan Miller, Keeper, Q.C. Boston: The Massacre
Anthony Sansone, Beater, Franklin & Marshall College
Katryna Fernandez, Chaser, Virginia Commonwealth University
Shane Wade, Utility, Virginia Commonwealth University
Andrew Hollenbach, Chaser, Rochester Institute of Technology
Billy Rothert, Beater, University of Richmond
Nick Beacher, Chaser, Stony Brook University
Dylan Faughey, Beater, Macaulay Honors College
Capri DeBiccari, Chaser, Emerson College
Joe Palagonia, Chaser, No Affiliation
Kyle Leslie, Beater, Rochester Institute of Technology
The Team: Sean was notorious for drafting players he knew little about, other than the fact they looked attractive or athletic. That seemed to work pretty well for him, as he was able to snag many of the better underrated players from the region, including chasers Andrew Hollenbach and Capri DeBiccari. They, along with Beloff himself, should provide a good chaser line to go along with superstar Sarah Holub, and should not have trouble scoring goals. On the beater front, Jenna Jankowski and Aaron Wahl should prove capable, and keep this team in games defensively. Keeper Dan Miller will also be relied upon heavily on defense, as he is the biggest player on this team, and will need to lay some hits to keep pace in the physical pool. Lastly, Sean didn't draft a primary seeker, but is instead relying on a committee to make catches for him.
Prediction: This team should keep pace in this pool, though it may find itself outclassed in the beater game at times. The chasers should provide enough offense, but will have to work hard defensively in order to sustain any advantage. I see this team going 2-2 in pool play, with a chance of making it to the playoffs depending on who they get their wins against.
X-factor: Physicality. This pool is rough, and this team is not as big as its competitors. If they can't levy as many hits as they receive, they may start to stall, and not live up to their offensive potential.
Michael ‘Yada' Parada's Orange Team
Michael Parada, Chaser, Pennsylvania State University
Alex Linde, Chaser, Macaulay Honors College
Luke Espina, Utility, Macaulay Honors College
Andrew Zagelbaum, Seeker, Macaulay Honors College
James Hicks, Keeper, University of Maryland
Patrick Rardin, Chaser, University of Maryland
Scott Axel, Beater, Pennsylvania State University
Steven Hysick, Chaser, Pennsylvania State University
Stevie Borrello, Chaser, Macaulay Honors College
Folahan Akinyemi, Beater, Pennsylvania State University
Nichole Powers, Chaser, Pennsylvania State University
Katie Rothert, Beater, University of Richmond
Alyson Brooks, Chaser, Pennsylvania State University
Jessica Rothwell, Beater, New York University
Robert Hedges, Chaser, Pennsylvania State University
Amanda Ortman, Beater, Virginia Commonwealth University
Sara Belasco, Beater, Skidmore College
The Team: Fresh off of back-to-back victories in the first Mid-Atlantic Fantasy Tournament and Champagne Cup, Parada will be looking for the three-peat here. With names such as Alex Linde, James Hicks, Patrick Rardin, and himself, Parada drafted a strong quaffle-based team. As long as they can work together, these players should provide solid scoring and physical defense. For beaters, Parada drafted players he knows well, including Scott Axel and Katie Rothert, in hopes that they will bring a Mid-Atlantic connection to New York. Lastly, with seeker Andrew Zagelbaum and himself, Parada has one of the strongest seeking duos in the pool, and should be set up nicely in close games.
Prediction: Unfortunately, Parada found himself placed in the group of death, and this good team's record is inevitably going to fall victim to the talent elsewhere in the pool. Despite the strong chasing line, I don't see this team's beaters being able to hold their own, and the defense will suffer accordingly. I think this team will go 1-3 and finish last in the pool, even though they would fare well in either of the other two groups.
X-factor: Chemistry. This team is less of a fantasy and more of a reality, as there are eleven players hailing from just two teams -- Parada's own Penn State squad and Macaulay. If they can bring their shared experience and teamwork together, they may be able to overcome some of their weaknesses and make more of an impact in the group.
Final Seeding:
1.) Zach D'Amico's Blue Team
2.) Benny Nadeau's White Team
5.) Jamie Lafrance's Baby Blue Team
4.) Ethan Sturm's Purple Team
5.) Ricky Nelson's Purple Team
6.) Jayke Archibald's Neon Green Team
7.) Augustine Monroe's Black Team
8.) Shenuque Tissera's Orange Team
9.) Clay Dockery's Red Team
10.) Sean Beloff's White Team
11.) Samy Mousa's Pink Team
12.) Michael Parada's Orange Team
13.) John Glynn's Gray Team
14.) Patrick Sheehy's Green Team
15.) Dante Close's Gray Team
Finals Prediction:
Jamie's Baby Blue Team over Benny's White Team
