Horsecows make finals, lose nailbiter

The Flying Horsecow, as a species, has an abnormally large heart. Or so one would think from seeing the Oberlin Ultimate Frisbee team's performance last weekend in Knoxville, Tennessee. The 'Cows went 5-0 with a team of 14 to get to the finals, even taking the hometown Tennessee team to half at 8-6. Despite every best effort, though, Oberlin could not sustain the struggle and fell 15-11, as Tennessee took their own trophy.

The 'Cows started off strong, working out some early-morning kinks against a subpar Vanderbilt team. With the first games going to 11, Oberlin took the game to half at 6-4, eventually prevailing 11-6.

The day's second game, against conference rival Notre Dame, was not to be as simple a matter. Though 'Dame was a small squad, with only 10 players, they made up for whatever they lacked in size with sheer effort and force of will. Though the 'Cows stayed even early, 'Dame's weak-side offense gave the Oberlin defense trouble, as they took the 'Cows to half at 7-5. 'Dame came out just as strong in the second half, building the lead to 9-5. But Oberlin would not go quietly into the night, battling back and staying close. 'Dame, however, was not thinking about a loss; seeded first in the pool over the 'Cows' two seed, they were convinced of victory. And, when they brought the count to 12-9, it seemed that they just might prevail.

At this point in time, a startling transformation occurred. Maybe it was the warm Tennessee sun, maybe it was the watered-down Powerade, but at a very deep level, the Oberlin Flying Horsecows changed when they received the pull on 12-9. With a calm, collected, above-the-fray demeanor, the 'Cows flowed down the field for a score, seemingly oblivious of the nerve-wracking pressure it was expected they would be under. They then recomposed themselves into the most intense defensive machine that Oberlin frisbee has seen all year, and stuffed Notre Dame. In a lightning-quick change of character, the 'Cows returned to their almost serene offensive mindset; and, just as quickly, back into an intense defensive frame of mind.

Back and forth they journeyed, and up and down the field, scoring and denying, denying and scoring. While their offense was not flawless, any miscue was more than made up for by the superb defensive effort. And so it went, with Oberlin finally putting the game even at 12.

But there was no room to settle back, for the cap had been set hard at 13. Which meant that it was all on the line, right there, with no room for error. Err the 'Cows did not. Following the pull, they stuffed 'Dame after just a few throws. Collecting themselves, they marched right down the field and scored, and the small but extremely vocal Oberlin sideline exploded in celebration. The sidelines were, throughout the weekend, just as consistent and outstanding as the on-field players, coaching the players along as well as providing moral support.

Oberlin next took on Ultimate newcomers Hampden-Sydney College, who were playing in their first tournament ever. New, but not to be underestimated, the "Free Beer and Chicken" team stayed with the 'Cows early, bringing the count to 3-3. Oberlin then threw a zone defense that allowed veterans to rest and inexperienced players to play, but most importantly threw Hampden for a loop. The 'Cows cruised to a 13-6 win, and advanced to the second day undefeated and as the number one seed in their pool.

Unfortunately for Oberlin, the Hampden-Sydney game signaled the end of the season for first-year Jake "Frodo" Schlessinger, who busted his ankle while running the zone defense. Frodo was unable to play Sunday, but nonetheless continued to provide vocal support from the sidelines. His play on the defensive side typified the overall Horsecow effort, as expressed by fellow first-year Ben "Longhorns" Gleason. "Frodo's play was huge; no, that's not just some size joke, it was really big," Longhorns said.

When the 'Cows awakened in their luxurious digs Sunday morning, they saw that a fifteenth member had joined the team: Ohio weather. Yes, a night of rain left the sky gray, the wind swift and cold and the air clammy. In other words, it was a beautiful Oberlin fall day.

Though Oberlin went through the first day undefeated, they received the fourth seed on the second day due to the tighter point margin by which they prevailed as opposed to the other pools' first seeds. The day's first game was a 9:30 contest against a Knoxville club team, Moonshine Barbie, the fifth seed. An experienced but largely unathletic team, Barbie threw a zone against the 'Cows, who shredded the defense easily. The game proved another good warm-up, with Oberlin prevailing 13-7.

The 'Cows next had a bye, giving them time to rest and practice. Also, Oberlin scouted the game from which their opponent was to emerge. Georgia Tech, the tournament's first seed, eventually prevailed over Illinois for a chance to face Oberlin. Tech, however, did not play like the first seed. Oberlin jumped out to an early 4-2 lead, and never looked back. Intense defense led the 'Cows as they took the semifinal contest 15-7.

The other semifinal game was still in progress when Oberlin finished mopping up against Tech, with surprise seventh seed Duke playing it tight with hometown favorite Tennessee. Tennessee prevailed, eventually, setting the stage for the final game of the tournament, which was, appropriately enough, the final.

Not only did Tennessee tout a larger reserve than Oberlin, they had the full support of all but seven members of the sidelines, including the many members of Barbie who stayed to cheer against the 'Cows and for their home team. But at no time in the contest were the Oberlin sidelines drowned out, a testament to their vocal strength as well as enthusiasm.

First-year Mateo "Chupe Diggler" Pastore was proud just to be part of the effort. "I felt like a hot, greased-up little cog in a giant, glorious machine," Chupe said.

And a machine it was. Oberlin came out fired up and played intelligent offense and intense defense, playing point for point until 5-5. The 'Cows then grabbed the lead and took the game to half at 8-6. Oberlin came out in the second half with the same mentality, trading points to make it 9-7. But then the fatigue hit, as it inevitably does when a team plays 6 games with 9 veterans rotating in and out for the vast majority of the points. Tennessee scored three straight to take the lead for the first time in the game at 10-9. Oberlin battled back, fed with sheer desire, to take an 11-10 lead. A combination of luck, tired Horsecows and efficient Tennessee offense conspired to send the hometown boys on a 5 point run and to the victory at 15-11.

The effort, however, was nothing less than monumental. The tournament victory would have been the first by a Horsecows team in two years, but even the loss in the finals is an extremely encouraging sign. This is due in large part because this 5-1 tournament record comes in a fall tourney. The spring season will see the return of 5 veteran Horsecows to the already-established base, and will come after a winter's worth of conditioning.

The Horsecows' next tournament is in late February, and 14 'Cows will have the tournament near-victory as their last memory of play. Pity the fool who comes against the 'Cows in that tournament.

-Jacob Kramer-Duffield is a member of the Ultimate Frisbee team.