Players to Watch: Week Six
Ready for more fireworks? Here are our players to watch for this weekend’s MLQ matches.
New York Titans
The New York Titans have historically used their series against the Ottawa Black Bears as a chance to build depth and test their younger players with larger roles. Chaser Annika Kim is no stranger to a large role for the Titans, having scored six goals against the Washington Admirals in their season opener and played two full seasons previously, but New York will need her fully integrated into the offense this weekend and beyond. She was less involved against the Boston Forge, finishing with zero goals, as the Titans dropped game three against an inferior opponent. Without chaser Molly Potter against the Black Bears, the matchup with Ottawa is a perfect time for Kim to get back on the statsheet.
Ottawa Black Bears
At only 19 years old, Ottawa Black Bears utility Ugochukwu Nwadike burst onto the scene with his performance at the East Division SuperSeries two weeks ago. As a chaser, he drew the attention of opposing beaters and pulled dodgeballs away from the lane with his positioning on the wings. He finished with five goals, three assists, and five stops in his first-ever MLQ series. As a seeker, he troubled flag runner Tyler Trudeau, an experienced flag runner and a former US National Team seeker, and recorded three catches in six matches, often working without much dodgeball control. Watch for Nwadike to continue his hot streak against the Titans.
Chicago Prowl
Chaser Dara Gaeuman makes her debut for the Chicago Prowl this weekend, playing in her first-ever MLQ matches after helping Boom Train win the US Quadball club division national championship in April. Out of the University of California, Berkeley program, she previously competed for the San Francisco Fog in Western Championship Quidditch. Her addition to the Prowl greatly strengthens what was already a position of incredible strength, as Chicago’s vaunted corps of women chasers is one of the best in the business. Gaeuman brings another dimension of ballhandling in space and finishing around the hoops for head coach Kennedy Murphy to use at her disposal.
Cleveland Riff
Cleveland Riff chaser Fiona Gaffney had a relatively quiet weekend on the statsheet week two against the Toronto Raiders, finishing with only two assists, but she made all kinds of things happen under the radar. She salvaged many possessions by keeping the ball moving and recovering loose balls, and she competed hard on defense, helping to direct Cleveland’s 2-2 zone and stay organized. She has also shown in past seasons that she is capable of greater individual production, as she recorded five goals and three assists in 2023. Look for her to start to make some more noise on the statsheet and eventually top those numbers against a tougher North Division in 2024.
San Antonio Soldados
In the marquee matchup of the weekend, the San Antonio Soldados, the only undefeated team in MLQ, take on the hottest team in the league, the League City Legends. The Legends are coming in fresh off their historic upset of the Austin Outlaws, where they burned their division rivals with speed and hustle, seemingly winning every loose ball and every 50-50 play. One player who will make sure that does not happen against San Antonio is head coach David Avila, who has long set the tone for the Soldados with his defensive alertness and possession-killing tackles. If San Antonio can replicate what its head coach models, the Soldados should have a good chance to remain perfect.
League City Legends
While head coach Hayden Boyes has rightfully gotten his flowers for guiding the League City Legends to an impressive 3-3 start and leading the league in scoring at the halfway mark, the play of beater Baldemar Nunez has been an under appreciated part of League City’s turnaround. Nunez has made it difficult for opposing beaters to break down the Legends half-court defense, sinking deep to the hoops and consistently winning exchanges with the likes of Josh Mansfield, Kyzer Polzin, and Taylor Tracy. He has played a ridiculous 130 drives, demonstrating his value to the Legends, and he currently boasts a +15 plus/minus—a full 10 points higher than his next closest teammate. His return to the Legends from the San Antonio Soldados is proving to be one of the biggest storylines in the South Division this season, but he will face his stiffest challenge yet against his former franchise and US National Team beater Daniel Williams.
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