Day Six

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Lauren Chambers, Edmund England, Michael E. Iacovella, Heidi Kalmari

Open Semifinals

Open Semifinal 1: Canada 17 - Sweden 8

Yesterday's Canada/Sweden semi was a rematch of a hotly contested game in Round 2. Sweden had not seen a World Ultimate Championships final in more than 10 years, and now they will have to wait at least another four. Perennial contenders in Europe, the Swedes could not pull together the offense needed to counter the huge lefty backhand of Jeff Cruickshank. Canada scored four straight to open the match, but let the Swedes back in at 10-7, Canada. Furious closed the door hard in the second half, finishing with at least 3 consecutive defensive goals.

Canada's game against the USA today is a rematch not only of Wednesday night's feature game, but also of the 2003 UPA Championships final.  In the UPA finals, Furious George of Vancouver (representing Canada at WUGC 2004) defeated the Santa Barbara Condors, 15-12.

Open Semifinal 2: United States 17 - Australia 8

Any competitive club team in the USA will most likely tell you that they fear the Condors' defensive prowess. The team from Santa Barbara, California representing the USA at this WUGC ­ always brings a fearless defensive line wherever they go. For confirmation, one may look to the semifinal game yesterday against Australia. With the USA up, 3-2, Team Australias' offensive weapons (Potts and Rogacki)  could only work two more scores before half came at 9-4, USA. Australia woke up on D in the second half, but it wasn't enough to keep the USA from a feature game rematch with Canada. Offensive weapons (of which their were many) this game included James Studarus and Brandon Steets. Ryan Yarbrough was named the games MVP by the Aussies.

Women's Semifinals

Women's Semifinal 1: Canada 17 - United States 8

This game really came down to focus, of which Canada was lacking none.  The Canadians quietly ran their offense, while letting their defense take over. Errors, both forced and unforced, were converted by the Canadian defense early in the game.  Canada took half with a considerable margin, and  never looked back in the second half. Always a threat on both sides of the disc, Leslie Calder (#7) got the assist on the final point off a short throw to Valerie Dion (#66).

Canada faces home team Finland in the finals this afternoon. Finland achieved only 9 goals against Canada in 2nd round play, but Canada will not take this game lightly.

Women's Semifinal 2: Japan 11 - Finland 14

Finland got their rematch against Japan in the second semifinal game on Friday and didn't look back. The Finns let the Japanese into the lead only once during the whole game, at 11-10. The blue-and-whites went on to score the final four points (11-14) to secure the victory and a place in the Saturday's final against Canada.

It was obvious from the very beginning that both teams wanted to be in the finals. The fury with which both teams went after the disk on defense and the patience of their offensive play was especially noticeable in the beginning of the game. Although there were many calls in the game that interrupted the rhythm and created some tension between a few players, in the end, the Finns were better able to focus on the business at hand than
the Japanese.  Katja Kosonen (# 30) had a strong day both in the defense and offense assisting three goals and scoring one. Henna Jalovaara (# 11) had an important role at the end of the game first making a defensive block and scoring, 12-11, which pushed the Finns to the final run.

Mixed Semis / Final

Mixed Semifinal 1: United States 17 ­ Germany 9

Most were expecting this to be an easy game for the undefeated USA, but the Germans gave them a run right from the start.  The first quarter of play say both teams working their long game and breaking the mark often. Germany took the lead at 4-3, but the USA utilized its depth and consistency to turn the game around.

Mixed Semifinal 2: New Zealand 13 ­ Canada 16

In the other semifinal, New Zealand ­ a force in the mixed division as of late ­ faced the Canadians.  The Kiwis couldn¹t get into an offensive groove, and Canada took half with a commanding lead, 9-5. New Zealand countered with hard marks and converted on key blocks that kept the game close. Canada's experience and poise under pressure proved the deciding factor.

Finals: United States 17 ­ Canada 14

A hat trick for the Americans!  Team USA, represented by the Lake Tahoe, California, "Donner Party" may very well be proclaimed an Ultimate dynasty. Beginning in 2002 with their incredible run to the top from a low initial seed in the World Ultimate Club Championships in Hawaii, the Party have won
two consecutive UPA Championships and now take home the gold for the USA in the Mixed division at the WUGC.

Canada and the USA tied in total goals for after Round 1, but Canada's total goals against was a staggering 25 over 7 games.  Most expected a barn-burner in this game between unbeatens, with the USA¹s potent offense hammering against one of the best defensive showings of the tournament.  The game was exciting to watch, but it was the USA's offense that dominated more than
anything else. A very long point in the beginning of the game ended in the Americans' favor, bringing the score even at 2-all and providing momentum that pushed the USA ahead to half, 9-6. A late defensive surge by the Candians wasn't enough to counter the USA's deep game.

Masters Semis / Final

Masters Semifinal 1: Canada 17 - Sweden 13

Canada went up early in this game, but unforced turns were capitalized on by Sweden to bring them back within one before half. Canada pulls out the win with more focus and consistency on offense.

Masters Semifinal 2: United States 17 - Great Britain 13

Great Britain made up a 3-point deficit early in the game to tie it at 8's. The two teams traded points to 13's, but the USA dug in their heels and closed the game with 4 straight goals.

Final: Canada  10 - United States 17

The final against the U.S. proved a heart breaker for the Canadian team who had already beat the U.S. in pool play. The U.S. got up two points at the start and Canada could never recover the difference. Early on in the game the U.S. had a three point run to take the score to 7. The Canadians answered with two points of their own but couldn't catch up. Simply put, the
Canadians couldn't capitalize on the turn-overs they received, and the U.S. was more focused on the tasks at hand. The USA¹s endurance was hard to beat and, in the end, the Canadian's game came down to errors made and opportunities lost.

Junior Women's Final

Final: United States 8 - Canada 17

In the Junior Women's Final today, Team Canada bested the United States, 17-8.  A slight change from the earlier calm conditions, the wind picked up a little bit and this might have affected the American's game. The girls seemed nervous and a bit tentative. The precision throws that we had come to expect from the team were off and their offense never got into a rhythm. On the flip side, the Canadian team was well in sync and converted on their opportunities.

The Americans fell behind early, going down 2-5.  They came back to within two at 4-5, when Leila Tunnell pulled down two goals, but this would be the closest that they would get.  The Canadians went on a furious run and took the half (9-4). They showed no signs of letting up in the second half of the game and went up 11-4.  At this point, the US was able to put in two goals
in a row and it seemed that they might be starting their come back run (6-11). It was not to be the case, Canada allowed only two more goals and that was it.  Final score Canada 17, United States 8.

Junior Open Semis / Final

Junior Open Semi 1: United States 17 - Finland 9

Finland started out with the same intensity as the blue-white Open guys did the day before. The young Finnish boys found their flow on offense and at half time the score was a tense 9-8, USA in the lead. The second half may as well have been a completely separate game.  USA allowed the Finns only two offensive points and advanced easily to the finals.

Junior Open Semi 2: Canada 17 - Germany 10

Despite their best effort on both sides of the disc, Germany was out-matched against Canada. Taking the lead early, the Canucks never looked back and advanced to again face the USA.

Final: Canada 9 - United States 17

Having already played a round-robin game against one another that was, to quote USA Juniors assistant coach Kyle Weisbrod, "the most exciting game that meant absolutely nothing", expectations at Veritas Stadium were high for the Junior Open final. In the game that "meant something", the USA dominated on offense with perfectly-placed hucks through the heart of the
Canadian defense. After taking half, 9-3, the Canadians crept back to 11-7, but that was as close as they would get. Working their way downfield on the final point, Eldon Creer (#31) of the USA reeled in an errant out-of-bounds pass and flipped it to Tommy Hendrickson (#5) for a "Greatest". Conner Maloney scored the deciding goal to close the books on the American boys' undefeated World Championship run.