Oly Rollers (#4) defeat Rose City Rollers (#1) to advance to Region Championship

by Shelly Shankya

The third game of Day 2 was one of epic proportions featuring the Rose City Rollers Wheels of Justice (#1) and the Cosa Nostra Donnas from the Oly Rollers (#4). The tight play and back-and-forth point scoring had fans on their feet.

Photo by Donalee Eiri, Photography by D.E.sign

Oly drew first blood when Rose City jammer White Flight went to the box for a major track cut, opening up the chance for On Da'Sligh to score 19 points. But Rose City jammer Sulfeariric Acid answered the onslaught with a 23-point jam with four natural grand slams.

The two teams grappled through 20 jams, and when Rose held Oly scoreless for five jams, you'd have thought the Pegacorn fans believed the team had won the bout. After that scoreless run, Oly gave Rose two more power jams, allowing Rose to score 19 points to bring the half to a close at 69-71 Oly.

"Rose is a team that has big hits and big blocks," Oly blocker Hockey Honey said. "We really worked on reforming at the front or the back, and we wanted to keep things fast on power jams and when we didn't get lead. We didn't want a slow game."

The second half, however, was a different story altogether. Oly dominated the Wheels of Justice, almost from the opening whistle, holding Rose City to only seven points for the first twelve jams. On Da'Sligh capitalized on a power jam, rolling and juking past Rose City's only blocker, Scald Eagle. The pack raced around the track, Oly establishing the speed at a fast clip. With 1:04 on the clock, Rose blocker Mel Mangles fouled out, just after Scald Eagle was able to rack up a solid 20-point power jam.

"After a solid win this afternoon, and getting to know how each other skates (we're obviously not a team that skates a lot together) we're ready to play against either Denver or Bay Area tomorrow," Hockey Honey said.

The kerfuffle at the end between Rose City's White Flight and Oly's Lil Tonka had the crowd on their feet, but the Pegacorns's fate was already set at that point. The Oly Rollers move on to play in the Region Championship bout on Day 3, and Rose City advances to play the loser of Bout 10 for 3rd Place and a chance to go to WFTDA Championships.

Oly Rollers (#4) 188
Rose City Rollers (#1) 121