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EVENT:2006
Nationals
DATE:
LOCATION: Sam Boyd Stadium,
SUMMARY:
With excitement, the young North Carolina Tigers team took to the field on Saturday.
The long awaited anticipation of facing the top teams in the nation ended with
the opening ball-up against the EAFL Champs, New York Magpies. The Tigers
pounced into the game with strong pressure and ball movement. They rattled the
Magpies as the first minutes of the game saw the ball travel into the Tigers
offensive 50 and not leave until the youngest Tiger player, Matt Beyersdorf, tallied a brilliant tight-angle goal. The
Tigers continued to play hard and carried their lead for nearly a quarter of
the game before NY found their balance and started working the ball into
scoring opportunities. With the Magpies recording three quick goals the Tigers
found themselves limping into halftime. If it were not for the smooth play of
rookie Paul Duncan the game would surely be out of reach. Off of a long entry
pass made by Stephen Harper, Paul in only his 3rd Tigers game made quick work
of a loose ball and drove it through the goal posts. Going into halftime the
Tigers felt confident that they could answer the Magpies best efforts and claw
their way back into the game. Halftime: Tigers 2.0.(12)
- Magpies 3.3.(21)
Like the ball-up of the
second half, the Magpies elevated their game. Their straightforward attacking
style left them with several opportunities to kick goals. When they went on a
streak of kicking four goals in five scoring attempts, the Tigers hopes for an
upset were snuffed out. With the only major score coming from the foot of the
Tiger’s leading goal scorer, Rob Sayre-McCord, late in the second half, the
Tigers let a hard fought first half slip away.
The mostly all American Tigers squad (only one full Australian) led by Captain
Shawn Doorhy kept their heads high as they walked off
the field. They now know what it is like to be playing Division 1 football.
Game #1 - Final Score - North Carolina Tigers 3.2.(20)
def. by New York Magpies 7.6.(48)
Tigers Goals: M. Beyersdorf, P. Duncan, R. Sayre-McCord
Tigers Best: M. Beyersdorf, S. Harper, B. Zimorowicz
The 2nd Tigers game of the 2006 Nationals featured the 4-time Division 1
National Champion, Denver Bulldogs. Denver is a battle-hardened veteran team
that punishes opponents with aggression and ball movement. From the start of
the game the Bulldogs ran hard. The Tigers did not back down from this
aggressive contest. As the game progressed Denver found themselves with many
more opportunities to score and capitalized. They took a demanding lead into
halftime: Tigers 0.0.(0) - Bulldogs 5.3.(33)
The second half saw much of the same hard hitting and game play. With Tiger,
Pat Shufelt, patrolling the box and crashing into
Bulldogs, the Tigers did not back down. One of the hardest hits of the entire
tournament saw first-time National player, Rob Sayre-McCord, receive a
"Shepherd with a Purpose" from a Bulldog nearly twice his size. Rob
took the hit, gained his balance, flexed, and made his way to the interchange
leaving his aggressor lying on the ground wincing and squealing in pain. Even
though the Tigers pushed hard and battled for the ball, they always seemed to
be one pass short of getting the ball into a position to score. Unfortunately,
with luck not on their side, the only two shots on goal were missed as they
drifted outside the goal posts. The
Bulldogs continued to out pace the Tigers and finished with a convincing win.
Game #2 - Final Score - North Carolina Tigers 0.2.(2) def. by Denver
Bulldogs 9.7.(61)
Tigers Goals: none
Tigers Best: B. Zimorowicz, W. McCallister,
R. Beyersdorf
The final Tigers game of the tournament pitted the Tigers against a team that
they played in the 2005 Nationals, Orange County Bombers. This early morning
Sunday game was rough to rally for but both teams found strength and produced
the highest scoring and one of the most exciting games of Nationals. It was
Orange County that came out of the gates first goaling
twice. However, the Tigers answered with two goals in two minutes. With the
inspirational play of the 2004 Co-Tigers Best and Fairest, Stephen Harper.
Injured much of the season, Stephan made a comeback for Nationals and started
the scoring for the Tigers. Quick work out of the center bounce that followed
saw some smooth ball movement to get the ball to Mick Coysh,
who saw an empty goal square and Wes McCallister
screaming towards the goal. Unfortunately, this scoring connection was the last
of the first half for the Tigers. Orange County strung together a series of
three goals and pulled away from the Tigers. Perhaps the fatal blow came when
the Bombers scored at the 1st Half horn. Halftime: Tigers 2.1.(13)
- Bombers 6.3.(39)
Orange County continued their strong play by kicking two goals in the first
minute of the second half. Even with two goals from Mick Coysh
and an additional goal from a set shot following a spectacular mark taken by
UNC player, Will Harvey (Pictured to Right), the Tigers were not able to claw
their way back from the six goal deficit. The Tigers walked off the field on
Sunday morning the same way they took the field on Saturday morning, with their
heads high and together as a team.
Game #3 - Final Score - North Carolina Tigers 5.4.(34) def. by Orange County Bombers 12.5.(77)
Tigers Goals: M. Coysh (2), S. Harper, W. Harvey, W. McCallister
Tigers Best: M. Coysh, B. Zimorowicz,
P. Duncan
2006 Nationals
Notables:
- The game against Orange County marked the last game coached by the Senior Head Coach, Adam Coleman. Adam has led the Tigers from a Division III to a Division I team. His commitment to the club, both on and off the field, has given the Tigers the strength and leadership to not only play hard and win games, but to realize that their potential has not yet been met. Adam will remain involved with footy in the United States through his participation in the USAFL Advisory Board.
- The game announcer for the weekend continued to mention that the Tigers are a young, American squad. He was correct. Of the 24 players the Tigers took to Nationals, 10 players are still in college and 7 players saw their first Nationals action.