HEADLINE:

Toronto and NY Ultimate vs. Boston!

by Sara Jacobi

Top-level Ultimate Frisbee comes to Boston this Friday evening, as the Ultimate Showcase Series (USS) presents two games featuring some of the best women's and men's teams in the world, June 26, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Tufts University’s Bello Stadium (161 College Ave., Somerville, Mass.)

The first game, at 6 p.m., is a women’s division match up of Boston-based Brute Squad, a two-time national semi-finalist, and Bent, a newly formed team out of New York that combined from two national-level teams.

Peri Kurshan, co-captain of Brute Squad, said Brute is an athletic team that runs an exciting fast-paced offense with a dangerous deep game.

“We're known for our aggressive man-to-man defense, but to win big games we're going to have to mix it up with different zone defensive looks as well,” Kurshan said. “Look for Vivian Zayas (#21) to light it up with some long throws to star receivers Kathy Dobson (#6) and Rana Suh (#22).”

Although Bent is a new team, they are not to be taken lightly, Kurshan said.

“Look for them to play aggressively and come out gunning for the win,” she said.

The second game, at 8 p.m., is a contest between Ironside, a men’s team from Boston, and GOAT, a men’s team from Toronto, Canada.

Ironside placed 2^nd in the country last year, and team captain Josh McCarthy said the team hopes to bring the national championship back to Boston this year for the first time in a decade. GOAT is looking to improve upon its 8^th place finish at nationals.

“Both teams have high expectations for the season,” said McCarthy. “The quality of play should be extremely high level, and the competition should be intense.” Ironside relies upon a steady short game punctuated with deep looks to its go-to receivers, Jeff Graham (#21) and Danny Clark (#77). On defense, expect both man to man and zone defense, said McCarthy.

“Ironside frequently mixes up its defensive sets, running multiple zone looks in an attempt to keep teams such as GOAT off-balance and out of synch,” he said. “When GOAT's deep game is clicking, they are a very difficult team to beat. Defensively, look for GOAT to play a high pressure man-to-man defense in an attempt to disrupt the Ironside offense.”

In addition to the game, there will be prizes and contests for fans.

Ultimate is the fastest growing sport in the country today. Invented just 40 years ago, it has exploded onto college campuses, high schools and middle schools, with close to a million people regularly participating in leagues around the country. Boston, in particular, is an epicenter of Ultimate on the East Coast, with more than 2,000 participants in the Boston Ultimate Disc Alliance (BUDA) leagues each year. However, although Ultimate has grown in popularity among schools and communities, there are few opportunities to watch the sport played at its highest level.

“Ultimate is a very fan-friendly game, combining all the precision throwing and long game excitement of football with the non-stop action and endurance of soccer,” said Kurshan. “Come see what the excitement is all about!

About Ultimate

Ultimate is one of the fastest growing sports, especially at the youth level. Seventy
teams compete in BUDA's Massachusetts high school league, and more than 750 college teams compete in the U.S. 42 countries compete internationally.

"Young players are attracted to this sport because everyone on the field is a potential quarterback and receiver," said Erik Sebesta, director of the USS. "They love the constant action, diving catches and long, high arcing throws."

Ultimate is played on a large field, about the size of a soccer field, with seven people per team on the field at one time. Game play is most similar to football, with teams aiming to advance the disc (“Frisbee”) from one side of the field into their opponent’s end zone. However, players are not allowed to run while in possession of the disc – it must be passed from player to player. The sport combines the flow and athleticism of soccer and basketball with the aerial passing skills of football.

Ultimate is unique because it is a “self-officiating sport,” – there are no referees. Instead, players govern the sport themselves, making their own foul and travel calls, a phenomenon known as “Spirit of the Game.”

“Relying on self-officiating and a deeply held belief in the importance of sportsmanship, Ultimate is a great example for kids of how sportsmanship and integrity can thrive at the highest levels of competition,” said Kurshan.

For more information on the Ultimate Showcase Series, please visit www.TheUltimateShowcase.com. For more information on the Boston Ultimate Disc Alliance (BUDA) recreational leagues, please visit www.BUDA.org. For more information on Ultimate in general, please visit the Ultimate Players Association, www.upa.org.

Contacts for The Ultimate Showcase:

Mark Goodman, (617)457-7870 Ext 249 Erik Sebesta, 617-577-7131

MarkGoodman@... Erik@...