Asheville, NC

Nashville Upsets Madison

By Beth Row

The story of the first game of the second day of 2013 D1 Playoffs in Asheville, North Carolina, was penalties. Nashville Rollergirls’ Music City All-Stars weathered the penalty storm better than their opponents, the Mad Rollin’ Dolls from Madison Wisconsin. Nashville took the win 167-204 In a game that saw the tournament’s first three foul-outs.

To kick things off, Four-Leaf Roller for Nashville Rollergirls snuck out on the outside for lead jam, but called the jam too late and the first jam fell 2-4 to Nashville. Both teams ran into penalty trouble early and Mouse and Four-Leaf Roller faced down a 2-2 pack. Roller was on the winning side of the match-up and brought the score to 6-8 Nashville only 2:45 into the game.

David A Carter Photography

Madison wasn’t ready to give up and sent a reliable jammer out in Magic Missile. Magic Missile called it when she pick up a grand slam making the score 11-8.

Jam 4 was a revolving door in the penalty box. With 25:40 on the clock, a forearm major was called on Mack the Knife. But a few seconds later Four-Leaf Roller went to the box on a cutting penalty. Mack the Knife was out quickly and scored points while the Madison defense held Roller when she was released from the box. But the luck wouldn’t last long as Mack the Knife found herself back in the box at jam’s conclusion for a track cut.

Ann T Histamine fought hard against a tough Madison defense to put Nashville up 18-29 with 22:15 left in the first half.

Mad Rollin’ Dolls got an opportunity to take the lead with 21:30 left in the first half when Zip Drive was called to the box for a track cut. 33-29 at the jam’s conclusion. But Nashville fought back with a lofty apex jump by Zip Drive coming out of the box and pulled Nashville back within 2 points. The teams saw another rotating penalty box for jammers when Lil Miss Behavin’ was called to the box on a track cut. During the power jam for Nashville, Four-Leaf Roller committed a track cut herself. Madison did a better job of defending against the power jam and the jam’s conclusion found Madison on top 48-44. A few jams later the sequence was repeated. Mouse cut the track and allowed Zip Drive to tie the game with 14 minutes left in the first period. Zip Drive went on to take the lead at 53-64.

Nashville was determined not to let the lead go and held a powerful two-wall defending against the power jam. Doom and Tear O’Bite held Magic Missile back on the Madison power jam. But after a few jams, more penalties and Nashville star passes, the score was once again tied at 74 with 8:45 left in the half.

After a Madison timeout, Mack the Knife had lead jam and had a Madison lead in her sights, but committed major back block when coming in for more points. A battered Ann T Histamine for Nashville passed the star to Dani Doom, who juked her way to an 81-102 score with 4:18 left in the half.

The penalties continued to be a problem for Madison toward the end of the period, starting with a major track cut by Tango de Muerte, who was donning the star. Nashville was able to put a few more points on the board before the half because the Madison skaters couldn’t stay out of the box as blockers or jammers. The half ended at 87-130, Nashville gaining a greater edge. At the start of the second half, Nashville continued their momentum with 2 lead jam calls in a row. Zip Drive was called to the box on a low block, but Nashville escaped 107-134, still on top. A track cut on Ann T Histamine at 25:55 gave Madison another chance., but Nashville still held on 117-134 with 24:14 left.

Nashville continued to add to their lead as the penalties continued to plague Madison.

“We came together as a team and played our game for 60 minutes and were successful,” said Nashville’s Britches N Hose.

An unfortunate series of events for Madison started when Mouse, Madison’s jammer, engaged a blocker out of play and was sent to the box. But Mouse caught a brief reprieve when Zip Drive committed and penalty of her own. A motivated Mouse came through the pack at a high speed and was subsequently sent back to the box on back block. That penalty was Mouse’s seventh, and she fouled out with 15:33 still left in the game.

Madison took a much-needed timeout to rally their troops. The score read 120-172 with 14:22. But 3 minutes later, Madison had yet to cut into Nashville’s lead. Lil Miss Behavin’ corrected that and scored 10 points with 10 minutes left.

The run was short-lived as the Madison jammers could not stay out of the box. Nashville had stretched their lead to 130-194 with less than 5 minutes remaining. A second Madison skater fouled out with Mack the Knife receiving an Out of Play penalty, her seventh.

Time was running out for the Mad Rollin’ Dolls when Ann T Histamine was called for track cut. With the score reading 157-201 Madison put reliable skater Lady Who-Ha on the track to jam. She was able to get points, but faced a tough Nashville defense desperate to hold onto the lead. The game ended with Madison’s Busta Crimes fouling out on a forearm penalty. Nashville took the win 167 to 204.

Final Score

(8) Nashville Rollergirls 204
(6) Mad Rollin' Dolls 167

Nashville plays Houston later in Day 2; Mad Rollin' Dolls will play for 9th Place on Day 3.