Evansville, IN

Toronto Holds off Steel 184-170

by Ninja Sass'em

Multiple lead changes and jammer penalties rattled the Steel Hurtin' (seed #7, ranked #28) and Toronto's CN Power (seed #6, ranked #23) were able to maintain cool heads and pull off the win 184-170 in game 14 of the international Division 1 WFTDA playoffs in Evansville, Indiana.

CN Power's Dusty posted up 14 points after capitalizing on a multiplayer penalty against Steel's jammer Leannibal Lector. Hurricane Heather of Steel answered by grabbing lead and 13 points, while Motorhead Molly was held up in the pack to bring the game to a 17-17 tie score.

It was jam 5 before Dusty started to pull away when Leannibal was again called for a multiplayer penalty and Dusty pushed the score up to 28-19. Kookie Doe from CN Power took lead jammer next and was able to put up another 23 points before being boxed at the end of the jam for a track cut. A stuck River Kyx passed the star to Leannibal who was able to grab 5 before the jam naturally ended at 2 minutes with Toronto leading 51-28.

In the following jam, Kookie started in the box allowing Steel's Rock Hard Candy to grab lead after a full minute of being stuck in the pack. Kookie passed the star to Dyna Hurtcha and Candy was boxed on a forearm penalty to bring the score to 56-36 with Toronto still ahead.

In jam 15, Dusty took advantage of a track cut penalty that sent Hurricane Heather to the box. Unfortunately, the Steel Curtain of blockers limited Dusty to only 8 points while Heather tore out of the box, cut through the pack completely untouched, and put up 14 points of her own. Steel started to narrow Toronto's lead, 72-58.

Bellefast answered back in jam 16 putting up 12 points while Kyx got sent to the box on a back block. Toronto still held the lead, 84-58.

A sneaky Steel star pass off the line from Kyx to Hurricane Heather shocked the Toronto blockers, and Heather was able to put up 23 points to close the game to within 1 point.

Going into half time, the game was tied up 91-91. Both teams showed 20 penalty trips on the board but two very important Steel blockers, Snot Rocket Science and Renny Rumble, had 4 trips a piece.

Dusty was in the box at the beginning of jam 4 in the second half and Rock Hard Candy obtained lead, Steel now leading 106-100.

Motorhead Molly grabbed an 8-0 jam against Steel's jammer and another lead change, bringing Toronto now ahead by 2 points.

Kookie Doe then added another 5 of her own bringing the Canadians' lead to 113-106.

Jam 10 proved too much for Steele's jammer Candy as she was sent to the box for a track cut. This allowed Dusty to push the lead even more adding 15 points to the total and calling it before Candy could score, 132-109 Toronto.

Hurricane Heather finally broke the Steel cold streak by throwing up a 4-0 jam in their favor.

Toronto called an official review following jam 13 to challenge a lack of forearm call against Heather, but the no-call stood.

With 14 minutes left to play, Hurricane Heather took the line unopposed with Motorhead Molly stuck in the box, but gained only 3 points before she had to call it to defend against the screeching fast Toronto jammer.

Steel went on an 11-point unanswered streak with 11 minutes to play and 11 points separating the two teams.

Dusty grabbed lead while Toronto's Candy Crossbones, Dyna Hurtcha, and Ames to Kill utterly stopped Heather, recycling her back multiple times before she could get out. Dusty scored 19 points to pull away, 158-128.

Leannibal Lector grabbed lead and two natural grand slams with Kookie still stuck in the pack. Snot Rocket Science and Athena held Kookie for over a minute before she could get out. A final four-point pass concluded Lector's 14-point charge to narrow the game to within 20 points.

Toronto's bench coach, Wade Wheelson, called a quick time out to pow wow with his two blockers and Motorhead Molly who would face Ally McKill, Snot, Athena, and Ada Bloodface. Molly got boxed on a track cut and Rock Hard Candy brought it within 8 points.

CN Power answered with 3 lead jams in a row and pushed the score to 176-157.

In the final jam, Motorhead Molly obtained lead and decided to run the clock as there was no way for Leannibal to catch her. Her bench finally yelled for her to call off the jam after the game clock expired, keeping Steel from calling a last minute time out to end the game 184-170.

Toronto finishes 7th and Steel City finished 8th in this D1 International WFTDA playoff weekend.

Final Score

(6) Toronto Roller Derby 184
(7) Steel City Roller Derby 170