Women’s Ultimate Frisbee Opens And Stays Strong

Photograph courtesy of Noah Gomes

By Liesl Ament and Meredith Hamm

“The score is zero – zero, and it’s game one, always,” said Steve “Scuba” Krieder.

When it comes to the club frisbee season, the pressure isn’t on until spring regionals, and that tournament is months away. Regardless, the CUA women’s ultimate team, dubbed Nun Betta, played hard at their first tournament of the fall season.

Nun Betta joined an assortment of other teams at University of Pennsylvania on the weekend of October 1st and 2nd. The team traveled up to Philadelphia on Friday evening, and the real fun began on Saturday. The main focus of fall tournaments like these is giving playing time to rookies, fostering team bonding, and improving skills learned in practice.

The weather was inclement. Each game was a fight not just against the opposing team, but against the wind. Strong gusts easily swept the disc off course, forcing Nun Betta’s girls to adjust their strategy. When the endzone was upwind, throws were short and sweet. When the endzone was downwind, players could use the wind to their advantage to make deep throws.

On Saturday, Nun Betta played three games. First, they faced off against Columbia, which they defeated 5-2. After an interlude of coffee and donuts, they beat Temple 6-4. Finally, game three was a tough loss to UPenn, 10-2.

Of the thirteen points Nun Betta scored on Saturday, eight were rookie points. Elle Ward, Molly “Ozzie” Ozanian, and Ava “Wig” Wiggenhorn scored a point each; Nina Consiglio and Emma “Toe” Wallace both scored twice.

After a hearty meal at Applebee’s, homespun ice cream from a local shop, and squeezing as many people as possible onto a single hotel bed, Nun Betta felt ready to take on Sunday’s games—even if it meant playing through the pouring rain. The team arrived at the fields only to learn that a significant number of teams had withdrawn due to the downpour. The tournament was ultimately, and sadly, canceled.

Reactions varied. Some girls had driven up Saturday night only to receive zero play time. Others were just happy they wouldn’t be soaked. However, the day wasn’t lost yet. Nun Betta channeled their frisbee energy into a lively game of bowling at V & S Lanes. They also celebrated teammate MaryEileen “Bambi” McDermott’s birthday with pretzels and cookie cake. Maria Organ and Maggie O’Brien bested coach Steve “Scuba” Krieder with their top scores.

Nun Betta made up for the lost play time during their scrimmage on Saturday, October 15th. Teams from Georgetown and the University of Maryland joined Nun Betta on Carlini field for some friendly competition. The stakes were low, but spirits were high. This was Nun Betta’s only home match of the fall season, many friends, families, and furry friends came to support them. 

CUA’s girls fought hard and walked away from the scrimmage with two more victories under their collective belt. This was all thanks to its stellar rookies and dedicated returners. Scores in these games came from Consiglio, “Toe” Wallace, Madison “Beans” Brausch, Maddy “Mop” Perrino, Sophia Cook, Cat DeMassi, Maggie O’Brien, and Bridget “Four” Guinee.

Through the power of friendship and frisbee, Nun Betta was able to make a statement to the other DC teams: tada gan iarracht. “Nothing without effort.”