Photo by Matias Cerisola – NY Empire
MAY 12, 2026
By Will Stuntz
The DC Breeze (2-1) made a statement in week three, defeating the New York Empire (1-1) by one with a last-second block and score. This was just the most recent cinematic battle for the greatest rivalry in the Ultimate Frisbee Association (UFA), as DC and New York are known to put on a show every time they match up.
Hauling in the spectacular game winner was Luke Rehfuss, whose acrobatic catch was delivered by the Dutch rookie Wiebe van den Brink. A dreadful New York throwaway on the Empire’s last chance to win it in overtime fell right in to van den Brink’s hands. With just 15 yards between the Breeze and victory, van den Brink made the pass, and Rehfuss made the leap and grab to upset New York in New York (not Hartford) for the first time since 2017.
Sean Mott quarterbacked DC’s offense most of the game, tallying seven assists and 512 yards. Also facilitating the offense was Jacques Nissen, who totaled a whopping 851 yards, four assists, and a goal, while Christian Boxley found his best performance of 2026 with with four assists and three goals. After collecting four goals in his pro debut last week, Gabe Dowd continued his hot scoring with five critical goals.
For New York, Alex Atkins was on fire. The new Empire member threw for over 600 yards with 900 total, while leading New York’s scoring with five assists and three goals. Matt Labar also looked like he had an all-access pass to the endzone with four assists and four goals. Nicholas Whitlock, New York’s rookie import from New Zealand was a major factor for New York, as his pulling ability made it difficult for the Breeze to start a point anywhere outside of their own endzone.
Despite an uncharacteristic four turnovers from each team, the first period saw no breaks. DC started with a quick hold that ended with Dowd taking his first trip to the endzone to take the lead at 1-0. The next three points were all holds, and all took over two minutes each, as neither team could keep their hands on the disc, leaving the game tied up at 2-2. DC retook the lead with Nissen connecting with Graham Turner for his first goal of the year before the two teams had a clean hold each to end the quarter with DC leading 4-3.
The second quarter started gloomily for the Breeze, with New York holding on the first point, as a Nissen throwaway and dropped pass by AJ Merriman saw the Empire convert the first two breaks of the game. The 3-0 run gave New York a 6-4 lead. Another throwaway for the Breeze came on the next point, but Merriman was able to get it back and connect with Dowd once again to cut New York’s lead back to one. New York held again, then a throwaway from Mott led to another Empire break, extending their lead to 8-5. DC responded in just 22 seconds when Mott delivered a 63-yard flick to Miles Grovic. Van den Brink made the block to get the disc back on the next defensive point before DC subbed the O-line in and worked its way into the endzone with Merriman, cutting the deficit to one at 8-7. Kai Schniedergers uncorked a huck to Jacob Cowan to hold for New York, and New York’s D-line capitalized on the next point with a break, pushing the New York lead to 10-7. The teams traded holds on the next two points before Grovic let off a 60-yard flick to Boxley, cutting the deficit back to two. New York threw it away on their next point, and DC took a timeout to give their offense a shot. Mott then connected with Merriman in the endzone to bring the game within one. New York had one last chance in the half, and Jack Williams found Atkins in the midfield, who unleashed a hail mary into a sea of black and white jerseys that was brought down by Whitlock at the buzzer, and New York took a 12-10 into halftime.
DC started the third by giving up a break on the first point before converting a hold. The teams traded holds for the next five minutes with three apiece, leaving New York up two. DC dominated the next three points and converted breaks on all of them. A block by Merriman set up a goal for Rehfuss, then a New York throwaway opened the doors for Micah Wagner to get in the endzone in his 2026 debut, and another throwaway from the Empire allowed Josh Lightner to dish out his second assist of 2026 to van den Brink, giving the lead back to the Breeze at 17-16. New York responded with Atkins and Labar connecting on a 68-yard backhand to tie it all up entering the fourth.
A long first point began with Rehfuss blocking an endzone shot before DC turned it back over. DC’s worries quickly vanished as Kevin Healey made a layout block to get the break chance back. Breeze head coach Xavier Maxstadt called a timeout and subbed in the O-line to take care of business, which they did with Roy finding Grovic for a goal. New York held on their second O-line point with Labar finding the disc in the endzone in under a minute to the game back up at 18-18. Two more clean holds from each eam saw the game tied again at 20-20. DC threw it away on their second pass of the next point before New York converted the break after a lengthy possession. The Breeze followed with a lengthy possession of their own, tying the game once again with a connection from Mott to Roy. Cowan got the disc in the midfield and ripped a flick at the endzone that Oliver Chartock brought down before DC held with Boxley throwing Nissen’s first goal of the game, evening things up at 22-22, and forcing the game into overtime.
Overtime started tragically for DC when Mott started his throwing motion but changed his mind, causing the disc to slip out of his hand in the DC redzone, giving New York an easy break to start extra time. DC’s offense came back out and scored quickly, with Grovic finding Roy in the endzone in under a minute. Both teams played perfectly on each of their next two O-line points, holding on each and leaving the score at 25-25. On New York's ensuing O-line point, with 13 seconds left and a chance to win it all, John Randolph received the disc from Williams in the backfield and proceeded to throw a routine pass right into the arms of van den Brink. Randolph sprinted back into the endzone to guard a cutting Rehfuss but was unable to stop the connection, and DC chalked up their fiftth win over New York in the past six matchups.
DC will face its first interdivisional opponent of 2026 in week four. The Colorado Apex (1-2) are heading east for bouts with both the Breeze and the Empire this weekend. Catch Colorado and DC battle it out at Carlini Field this Friday at 7 p.m. ET. Tickets available at thedcbreeze.com and streaming live for free on YouTube as this week's Friday Night Frisbee matchup..
