Photo by Shawn Lanzillo – UltiPhotos.com
MAY 20, 2025
By Kyle Turnbaugh
The DC Breeze (2-2) played host to the undefeated Boston Glory (4-0) on Sunday, and the Glory continued to prove why they are favorites to win the East by knocking off New York and DC in consecutive games. For DC, they looked unable to handle Boston’s physicality, with Jeff Babbitt, Orion Cable and Tannor Johnson-Go dominating all game and turning break opportunities into goals, something the Breeze struggled to do.
The Breeze D-line generated a solid amount of turnovers, coming up with 13 blocks and forcing 19 turnovers in all but were unable to string together much offense after winning the disc. The D-line converted just four of their 13 break opportunities, while Boston went 8-for-16. DC got incredibly close to converting more of those opportunities, but some poor goal-line decisions and high-pressure defense from Boston forced multiple DC turnovers right on the doorstep of the endzone.
DC's O-line also struggled, holding just 44% of the time and struggling in the red zone. The absence of Cole Jurek definitely made a big difference, and Breeze handlers Thomas Edmonds and Jacques Nissen struggled with uncharacteristic throwaways throughout the game, due to a combination of strong gusts of wind and stronger defense from Boston. After turning the disc over just eight times the week prior against Carolina, 22 turnovers this week comes as a shock and hopefully, mostly comes down to the wind.
The first quarter began with a clean hold to start for Boston. The next point was typical of what we would see for the rest of the game, a long back and forth point that eventually resulted in Boston scoring. After a throwaway from Nissen, DC got it back through a block from Kevin Healey, who later got hand blocked, leading to Boston’s offense cruising down the field for a break to go up 2-0. Back-to-back two-minute-plus points resulted in holds for both sides, and the Breeze kept up with Boston for the rest of the quarter, ending the first frame down just 3-2.
The Breeze then started the second period with the disc, as Jeff Wodatch looked to hit Christian Boxley over the top at midfield, but his hammer got picked up by the wind and evaded Boxley. Boston picked up the disc and worked methodically down the field before finding Johnson-Go in the endzone to break the Breeze to open the second quarter. DC proceeded to get broken again during a nearly-five-minute point where the D-line was subbed on, forced a turn, and then subbed off for the O-line again, who then turned the disc over again through a Wodatch drop, leading to another Boston break. Although DC was broken twice, the highlight of the period came from Andrew Roy, who scored an amazing layout goal off a pass from Rowan McDonnell that was swatted down by two Glory defenders but not far enough to prevent the beautiful bid from Roy for the DC goal. Despite a topsy-turvy first half, he Breeze entered the break down by only one goal at 6-5.
The second half opened with holds from both sides, showing some potential for stability in an otherwise-hectic matchup. That stability quickly dissipated, however, as a throwaway from Wodatch allowed Boston to fly down the field and break to stretch their lead to three early in the second half. The Breeze fought back with a hold from McDonnell and then a perfectly-timed layout block from Moussa Dia, who would then find Jasper Tom in the endzone for a Breeze break to bring DC back within one. This didn't last long, though, as Glory held and then generated another break of their own at the end of the quarter to restore a three-goal lead. Glory nearly broke again with just seconds remaining after a goal-line drop from Roy, but Boston’s last-second look to the endzone just missed, keeping the lead at three going into the final frame.
The theme of the game for the Breeze was close but not good enough, and that continued into the fourth quarter. DC's offense nearly produced a clean hold, but Boxley was called short of the goal line where he tried to dish it to Nissen for an easy goal, but he couldn't rein it in. As had happened all game, Boston then eventually took advantage of the mistake and cashed in another break. Glory scored three consecutive points to open the fourth, essentially putting the game to rest with a six-point lead. The Breeze ended positively, scoring three times, including two breaks, but it wouldn't matter at the end of the day, and Boston came out on top, 14-11.
Although it was a tough loss, there were positive takeaways. AJ Merriman was dominant on defense, recording three blocks and handling the reigning MVP well. Dia also recorded three blocks and tacked on an assist, and his physical presence was noticeable on the field. On the offensive side, McDonnell’s throws looked sharp as ever and despite a few mistakes, Nissen still had a three-assist day and 450 total yards.
The Breeze now sit at 2-2, third in the East behind Boston and Philadelphia. DC does not have a week five matchup so will have plenty of time to look to improve on this result and prepare to take down the Toronto Rush and Montreal Royal in their only doubleheader road trip of the season in week six. Toronto may be winless but should not be taken for granted, as DC narrowly defeated the Rush by just one goal at home earlier in the season, and Toronto’s two other results have been close losses to a rising Philadelphia team. Montreal is coming off their first win over New York since 2018, so they'll be hungry for more, and both Canadian opponents are also off in week five to rest and prepare.
