By Steve Lienert

June 17, 2019

PHILADELPHIA, PA - Despite three goals apiece from Billy Sickles, Zac Sands and Himalaya Mehta, the Phoenix fell to the DC Breeze, 21-16, in an AUDL East Division matchup at A.A. Garthwaite Stadium last Sunday afternoon. This loss was preceded by another in-division defeat at the hands of the unbeaten New York Empire, 19-14, on Saturday night in New York.

Against New York (8-0), Sean Mott scored twice and added two assists. Sickles threw five goals and tallied three blocks on defense, but it wasn’t enough to propel the Phoenix even though the game was tied at 9s at the half. Ben Jagt caught five goals and added two assists and Mike Drost notched four goals and three assists to help lead the Empire.

Against the Breeze (6-4), Philadelphia took the half at 11-9, but a buzzer-beating goal before the break gave DC momentum. The Breeze came out of the half on fire, scoring the first four goals of the second half to establish a lead it did not relinquish. Rowan McDonnell scored five goals and tossed four assists, while both Max Cassell and Jarrod Banks notched four goals and three assists each to pace the Breeze.

Mott totaled a goal, four assists and two blocks for the Phoenix. Mike Arcata tallied a goal, three assists and a block, and Paul Owens added two goals for Philadelphia. This weekend’s defeats have the Phoenix fall to 2-5 on the season. Next, the Phoenix head to DC for a rematch with the Breeze this Saturday June 22, at Carlini Field on the campus of Catholic University in DC starting at 4 p.m.

The Phoenix host the NY Empire on Saturday, July 6 at 6pm. Tickets and fan packs are available here.