On Saturday June 20, the North Carolina Tigers (0-3) travelled to Fort Lauderdale to take on Florida United (which combines the Fort Lauderdale Fighting Squids with the Florida Redbacks. On a bitterly hot day in Ft. Lauderdale with the heat index around 115, 20 players from North Carolina came down to play against our combined Florida United/Saints/Squids/Redbacks team. Surprisingly, despite having home field advantage, our Florida team lost a lot of players before game time and only had 20 players also. It looked like we were in store for a very even match against one of the fittest teams in the country. What ensued was an unpredictable rollercoaster match in which momentum swung back and forth over large periods of time.
In the opening quarter, the Florida United dominated. Florida controlled the ruck taps to our dominant players in the middle especially former Revo Dustin Jones and Janni Mirosevich. They followed with frequent deliveries to the forward line with numerous possessions by our uncatchable free floating forward, Ryan Morton (who probably totaled 25 to 30 possessions during the game). However, Morton did his best impression of Hawthorne’s Buddy Franklin and peppered the goal area with points. Not to be out done, no one on the Redbacks was able to capitalize on our dominance as no one seemed able to kick straight. Jason Namour set a good tone for the team early on with some good tackles against a North Carolina team that early on was holding on to the ball frequently too long. At the break it was Florida 2.8 (20) to North Carolina Tigers 1.0 (6).
The second quarter saw continued Redbacks dominance early grabbing numerous possessions in the middle and delivering to our forward line. Through the first two quarters, Mustapha Turay had completely shut down North Carolina’s Jason Heathcote and intimidated their entire team with one of his monstrous hits. However, after slotting a few more goals early and seeing the lead grow to 31 points, the tide started to shift. United started to get tired, and the North Carolina Tigers were still running. At the half it was Florida 5.10 (40) to North Carolina Tigers 2.2 (14).
The third quarter saw United come out flat and the North Carolina Tigers come out fired up. Florida battled valiantly in the ruck but North Carolina was winning out of the middle and winning most loose balls. Often Florida were standing around gasping for breath. North Carolina came storming back but Florida was able to hang in there often bolstered by spectacular play and powerful tackles. Heathcote was dangerous up forward for the Tigers and Revo Paul Duncan was starting to get on top. At the break it was Florida 6.13 (49) to North Carolina Tigers 5.6 (36).
The start of the 4th quarter showed more of the same from the 3rd quarter. North Carolina dominated and suddenly the game was even at 49 a piece. But at the point United started to lift. Dustin Jones seemed to come out of every pack running with the ball. Across the field United all got their second winds and the Tigers finally tired out and the game turned dramatically. Final Florida United 12.15 (87) to North Carolina Tigers 7.7 (49).
Florida 2.8 5.10 6.13 12.15 (87)
Nth Carol. 1.0 2.2 5.6 8.8 (56)
GOALKICKERS
Florida: Janni Mirosevich 4, Adham Makki 3, Dustin Jones 2, Ryan Morton 2, Mustapha Turay 1.
Nth Carol.: Jason Heathcote 3, Marc Castrovinci 2, Steve Miller 1, Stuart Gill 1, Kim Hemenway 1.
BEST PLAYERS
Florida: Janni Mirosevich, Dustin Jones, Mike Heithaus, Mustapha Turay.
Nth Carol.: Paul Duncan, Marc Castrovinci, Wes Hayutin, Michael Coysh, Jason Heathcote.
Field Umpire: Ian McNiece.
