Salem, OR

Rat City ekes out narrow win over Boston

By Lois Slain

The last game of the day, between #3 Rat City Rollergirls and #6 [Boston Derby Dames](Rat City Rollergirls boston) began as a highly defensive slog with both teams struggling to put many points on the board. Rat City held a slim lead for more than 10 minutes, as both teams largely kept all their skaters on the track. That changed, however, when Rat City’s jammer picked up a two-minute penalty. Boston rode the advantage to a 39-19 lead over Rat City. However, Boston kept losing blockers to penalties, and Rat City quickly started to close the gap again, to 40-30 Boston.

Rat City’s strong defense was on display when they held Boston to only 5 points as another Rat City jammer picked up a penalty. Rat continued the momentum to regain a 6-point lead with just over five minutes left in the period. Shortly after, Boston’s jammer was the second jammer to escape the pack but picked up lead because Rat’s jammer was ineligible. Instead of calling it immediately, Boston’s bench had her keep the jam running. Both teams picked up points, but Boston ended up regaining a 77-70 lead as Rat’s jammer and multiple blockers wound up in the box.

Steve Jurkovic Photography

However, the tides turned again as Boston’s Lil Paine picked up a track cutting penalty after a power start. Rat City put out veteran Carmen Getsome in the final jam of the period to close out the power jams, ending the period with a 103-86 lead for Rat City.

Rat City carried the momentum into the second period, but Boston was always hot on their heels. Boston regained a 2-point lead early in the second half on a power jam and then kept the momentum going to pick up lead a couple more times. However, they chose to continue the strategy of keeping jams running long, which allowed both teams to pick up points and prevented Boston from pulling any further ahead.

Following that surge by Boston, Rat City regained dominance on lead jammer status, thanks in large part due to their impenetrable defensive walls. They slowly built their largest lead of the game, leading 200-145. Then, Rat City’s Full Nelson was sent to the box on a track cutting penalty. Boston closed the gap to 43 points, and then 22 points over the next two jams. With one minute on the clock, Rat City again turned to Carmen Getsome to seal the deal. Carmen got lead and had nearly completed her last scoring pass when she was called on back block penalty, opening another opportunity for Boston. Boston’s Lil Paine passed the star to Anna Wrecks’Ya as Rat City’s defense vaporized on penalty calls.

However, the last-jam effort was not quite enough, and Rat City escaped with a 212-205 win.

Final Score

(3) Rat City Rollergirls 212
(6) Boston Derby Dames 205

Rat City goes on to play Atlanta Rollergirls in the semifinals at 4 p.m. PDT. Boston will play The Chicago Outfit at noon Saturday.