Nashville, TN

By Lexistential Crisis

Game 3 of the International 2014 WFTDA Championships featured two teams that have never played each other. Texas Rollergirls (Evansville Seed #3, #5) of Austin, Texas and Angel City Derby Girls (Salt Lake City Seed #2, #9) of Los Angeles, California fought for the chance to move on in the tournament to play reigning champions Gotham Girls Roller Derby.

Photo by Donna Olmstead

The first few jams accurately set the tone for the entire game. In the first jam neither jammer was able to break the slow, tough pack until there were only six seconds left in the jam. Texas and Angel City controlled the jammers so well that the pack barely made it past turn two. Slow, aggressive packs continued throughout the first half and most of the action happened between the jammer line and turn two. By the 15-minute mark Texas took a lead of 49-24.

Texas continued to build a lead throughout the first half, as jammers Sarah Hipel and Hauss the Boss were able to push and spin their way through the braced Angel City walls. Both teams used similar defensive strategies, as all their blockers worked together seamlessly to keep their wall formations in tact. At the half, Angel City brought their score up to 43 and Texas had 80 points.

In the beginning of the second half Angel City jammers Mickispeedia and Chica Go Lightning closed the scoring gap with 12- and 25-point jams. Soledad, Krissy Krash, Rachel Rotten, and Ima BlowBya were able to hold back the Texas jammers to allow their team to catch up and tie the game at 93-93 with 23 minutes left in the game.

Photo by Joey Miller

Texas responded by adding 15 points in the next jam as Polly Gone, Olivia Shootin’ John, Luce Bandit, and Barbara Ambush kept Mickispeedia from breaking the pack. Texas kept their defense strong and slow in order to control Angel City’s jammers while giving their own jammers space to score. Hauss the Boss, Sarah Hipel, and Polly Gone all had double-digit jams to increase Texas’s final point total to 192. Angel City ended the game with their score at 140, thanks to the offensive efforts of Cris Dobbins and Satan’s Little Helper.

Hauss the Boss and Sarah Hipel led scoring for Texas with 84 and 75. Angel City’s top scorers were Satan’s Little Helper with 47 and Chica Go Lightning with 30. Texas kept their penalty count in control with only 27 penalties, and only had three total box trips for their jammers. Angel City also kept their jammer penalties low with only two in each half.

Texas will play Gotham Girls Roller Derby in a rematch of last year’s Championship game tomorrow at 2 pm CDT.

Final Score

Angel City Derby Girls (Salt Lake City Seed #2) 140

Texas Rollergirls (Evansville Seed #3) 192