Great Lakes Regionals this weekend

It is almost gut-check time for NUT as we prepare to make our run at a Nationals bid. Early talk has us seeded anywhere from 8th-12th. More to come later in the week.

NUT-B wins Central Plains D-II Sectionals

[Should have put this up sooner!]

Big props to our B team for taking home the Central Plains D-II crown. Our section is one of the biggest in country, and this year some teams played in a separate tournament over the same weekend.

In its first year of existence NUT-B took down other local B teams and lesser programs en route to the title. There was talk of a D-II Regionals, but unfortunately the East Plains Sectional Coordinator could not get together a D-II in his area.

Having the numbers and depth to field two competitive teams this year has been a huge step forward for our program.

NUT finishes 5th at Sectionals

NUT survived a grueling Central Plains Sectional to advance to the 2009 Great Lakes Regional. NUT came in seeded 4th overall and finished the tournament 5th. A textbook Saturday in the Naperville sun devolved into a sloppy Sunday that matched the rainy weather.

SATURDAY - Pool play, games to 11

Valparaiso: W, 11-3
A nine-point run starts the day off right.

Northern Illinois: W, 11-4
A combination of NUT defenders shuts down their go-to handler.

Knox College: W, 11-2
NUT jumps out 7-0 and never looks back.



Notre Dame-B: W, 11-0
We get accused of spiking it too much, and therefore being "douche bags." Woops?

Indiana: W, 11-5
Our big game of the day, against the two seed in our pool. We go up 5-1 by forcing turns with our man defense and playing flawless, quick-hitting offense the entire game.

[Macaroni Grill = awesome dinner. Chef's Trio is the way to go]

SUNDAY - Bracket play, games to 15

Univ. of Chicago: W, 14-11

NUT can never just put away the Junk in the first game of the day, but with the win we qualify for Regionals.

Notre Dame: L, 15-7


Against the number one team overall, injuries, other factors and Notre Dame's play-making finally catch up to us. They go up 5-0 and cruise to the win.

North Park: L, 15-8
The wheels really start to fall off against the overall three seed.

Indiana: L, 15-10
The final disappointment. In a complete flip of Saturday's win, our offense was stagnant and mistake-ridden. We fail to hold seed and finish fifth.

*******

With three of our top players injured and out of action for Sunday's games, we had a very disheartening slide to fifth place. But luckily we have two weeks to heal up and prepare for the Great Lakes Regional. The road to natties still lies ahead.

To see a full album from the U. Chicago and Notre Dame games, click on the photo/link below.

NUT at Sectionals 2009

Central Plains Sectionals this weekend

NUT begins its stretch run of the season tomorrow in Naperville, IL, where it will play in the Central Plains Sectional. NUT comes in seeded 4th overall out of 24 teams. Here is our schedule for Saturday's Pool Play:

Round 1: Valparaiso
9:00am-10:30am

Round 2: Northern Illinois
10:45am-12:15pm

Round 3: Knox College
12:30pm-2:00pm

Round 4: Notre Dame-B
2:15pm-3:45pm

Round 5: Indiana
4:00pm-5:30pm

*******

Depending on the Saturday results, we will potentially see U. Chicago in the first round of Sunday's bracket play, with a chance to face Notre Dame in the semi-finals of the Championship Bracket.

NUT goes 6-1 at Huck Finn

In our last tune-up before the Series, NUT had an impressive showing at Cultimate's first ever Huck Finn Tournament. We finished 6-1 down in St. Louis, including wins over potential Sectional and Regional opponents. We won all six of our pre-scheduled games before falling to a tough Kansas squad in our re-seeded game.

SATURDAY

Truman State: W, 13-9
Revenge for our loss to these guys at MLC back in the Fall.

Michigan State: W, 13-6
Take half 7-1, as they have no answer for our suffocating zone defense.

Bye

Iowa: W, 13-8
A huge win against a potentially Nationals-bound team. NUT takes half 7-5 and closes it out in a gritty zone game.

Indiana: W, 13-7
Actually go down 7-6 at half, not playing with the same fire as the Iowa game. But in the second half we wake up and blank them, 7-0, to win the game and stay undefeated.


SUNDAY

Purdue: W, 13-3
Not much to say except a great start to our second day.

Missouri: W, 13-8
Similar game to Indiana the day before. Mizzou worked our 2-3-2 and took half 7-5. But a switch to cup and better offensive movement turned it around, as we won the second half 8-1.

Kansas: L, 12-8
Too many stupid drops and throwaways doomed us against this talented team. We had multiple turnovers just outside their endzone, a few yards away from scoring and potentially changing the outcome of this game.

*******

Still a successful weekend overall for us, giving us the confidence and game experience we needed just before Sectionals.