We’re welcoming newcomers to open team events on Saturday, April 7th, 14th and 28th. Tryouts begin with May 5th practice. Cuts and feedback on roles will continue through June with final roster determination following Boston Invite.

If you have questions, want more information or to join our listserve, email “captains at phillyamp dot com” and give us some idea of your background playing ultimate.

Thanks Five Ultimate for the nice team picture, this after our 2-1 finish on Thursday in Sarasota.

AMP finished the 2011 club season by representing Philadelphia at the 2011 Club Championships. With continued improvement from last year, the team returned to the National quarterfinals for the fifth time, and first since 2009. With a roster featuring just 6 players in common between the 09 and 2011 campaigns, the team has truly rebuilt its core, with greater depth and flexibility, to compete for a national championship in 2012 and beyond.

While our season-long emphasis on fitness and mental toughness fueled the team throughout the tournament, AMP’s offense struggled at times in Sarasota, feeling the absence of the top-level tests meant to be provided by the rained-out Chesapeake Open tournament. Some personnel shifts and strategic adjustments on the fly were required while the defense kept the team competitive with several big runs in key games. Down 8-4 at half to Minnesota’s Dragon Thrust, the D-line scored 6 breaks in the second half, including a 4 point run to turn an 8-10 deficit into a 12-10 lead. AMP added one more break to complete the 15-12 win, then came from behind once more in the final game on Thursday to record a win over Jacksonville and break seed, advancing into the Friday powerpools. Justin Illuzzi threw 4 scores in the Dragon game, Melissa Devlin scored twice, Aaron Caulfield had 3 goals and Alex Grintsvayg 2 Ds along with 2 assists and 1 score.

Some of the inconsistencies returned on Friday against the top overall seed Ghost and defending National Champion Polar Bears. Those two losses sent AMP into the pre-quarter game against Atlanta’s well-regarded Bucket, but the team refocused for its best performance of the season. AMP’s D immediately opened up a 4-1 lead with Brian Jin’s mark forcing Bucket away from their primary cutters and Grin again dominant in transition, scoring 2 and assisting on 4 more goals in addition to 1 D during the game. Krista Winalski scored 2 clutch goals while Raha Mozaffari and Aaron Caulfield were huge stretching the field deep, each scoring 3, often with spectacular grabs, and assisting on 2 more respectively. Raha added a layout takeaway flying high past Bucket’s best female receiver to D an underneath cut. Though the lead narrowed to 8-7 at half, AMP coolly pulled away in the second with superior fitness and great support from teammates, fans and Southpaw on the sideline, breaking on the game’s final 2 points for a 15-11 win.

Despite a 5-goal performance from Aaron Caulfield, AMP could not capitalize on their opportunities in the quarterfinals. The team’s mental toughness showed through in the placement bracket though with a 4-point run late in the second half to take a lead against World Club Champions CLX, before falling by one for a respectable 8^th place finish.

AMP’s women featured in several big plays on the weekend including a catch D on the goal line by Preeti Nalavade against Dragon, a terrific D and Callahan score for Andrea DeSabato against Ghost, a diving score off a tipped disc for a big upwind break by Kim Streff against CLX, Kelly Nye’s torpedo layout D against Slow White, Jill Domanico’s persistent pressure in the Wolverine game and many more unnoticed plays with big impact by Melanie Berlin, Nichole Smith and Jessie Morris moving the disc to setup their teammates on O and denying their marks on D. The talent, intensity and consistency from the women’s side of the roster always sets AMP apart from its opponents.

AMP’s men were big contributors as well with Keith Torrey and Zach Weiss taking turns shadowing opposing deeps while bringing intense pressure on under cuts. Jesse Gormley, Andrew Baill and Bill Schrecker provided energy and clutch breaks for the D line as well as constant talk from the sideline. Ben Pelleg featuring on both the O and D lines, veterans Brian Lo, Harrison Treegoob and Alex Peters providing the handling foundation for the team while O cutters Dan Cavanaugh and Kevin McCormick produced several spectacular deep runs and grabs.

New players are welcome to join team workouts on Saturday April 9th and 23rd. AMP’s primary tryouts will take place at Saturday practices on May 7th and 21st, with late tryouts June 4th. If you’re interested in the team, but unable to make this schedule please let us know. Cuts and feedback on roles will continue through June with final roster determination following Boston Invite.

If you have questions, want more information or to join our listserve, email “captains at phillyamp dot com” and give us some idea of your background playing ultimate. All workouts and practices will take place in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park. Can’t wait.

AMP entered the second round on Thursday against Overhaul excited to take our lessons from round 1 and increase the intensity, but had trouble getting on track. Assessed 2 TMFs early on by the Observers for a touch-foul on the mark and a phantom sideline violation, our will broke a bit when, after working the disc up the field and calling a time-out outside the endzone, an Observer entered the huddle to tell us he was moving the disc back to the middle of our endzone after assessing a 3rd TMF for sideline infractions. No further explanation or detail was made available. Overhaul won 15-4.

The team refocused for round 3 against Iowa’s Scientific Method, knowing a win would set us up in best position to fight for Quarterfinals on Friday. Method hucked early and played zone defense effectively as the wind increased a bit, but both teams traded out the first half. Our pulls improved and Petter’s D on a first throw gave AMP a break to lead 11-10, but the O faltered to give Method the 12-11 lead. D took over to end the game however and AMP had our first win of 2010 Nationals; Michael Zargham throwing to Raha for the 15-12 victory. Ben, Dan and Bulb each had 2 Ds, Krista and Truskin had 3 scores each, Harrison and Bulb 3 assists each and Petter 2 throws for scores from the D line. Afterward we recognized Dan Cavanaugh as our player of the day for his consistent contributions on both sides of the disc.

Jeff Loperfido arrived on Friday and brought a steadying presence to the O line, as we opened in the lower pool versus Barrio with some patient disc work against a pseudo-zone as their handler defenders dropping deep into the lanes. The O line’s D was especially important this game, getting the disc back very quickly and keeping the game on serve until a Fido D-line appearance forced a turn from Barrio’s Jeff Grobe and the first break of the game. AMP conceded a break in the second half, but the D stepped up to earn some as well. Bulb made a spectacular diving catch over a defender’s shoulder to save Raha’s huck from sailing out the back, giving AMP the 15-12 win in a tightly subbed game. Raha had 4 scores, 2 assists and 2 Ds, Harrison 2 scores, 2 assists and 2 Ds, Truskin 3 scores, 1 assist and 1 D while Ben, Jill and Grin did excellent work rotating through the tough matchups with Barrio’s isolation cutters.

A regional rematch against Whagonwheel was going to determine the pre-quarters participant, but AMP got off to an awful start with two first-throw turns leading to quick Whagon breaks. Still the D line had opportunities each time on the field and we went into half down 8-3 knowing the potential for a run existed. AMP broke straight away in the second to narrow the lead to 8-4 before Whagon scored for a 9-4 lead. AMP then scored the next 7, often earning some very long multi-turnover points with suffocating marks and clutch deep D, though we lost Fido to a turned ankle at 9s. Up 11-9, game to 12, the D line finally gave up a score; 11-10 game to 12. O worked the disc upwind, turned and then regained possession off a huge point block by Bulb, but still couldn’t punch the disc in and gave up a break; 11s and universe point. AMP O received going downwind but turned again on a bailout huck. As Whagon worked the other way Krista, Jill and H all just missed Ds as a bladey Whagon flick gave North Carolina the win. Grin had 4 scores and 3 Ds, Ben 3 assists and 2 Ds, Keith and Raha 3 Ds each while Truskin threw 3 scores, Krista assisted on 2 [including a majestic bailout hammer] and Petter played a key role in the middle, swinging the disc and maintaining possession on several long points.

In limited playing time, Brian Acquaviva, Kyle Golrick, Dave Darowish, Jesse Gormley, Michael Zargham and Megan Kuhfuss played especially important roles on Friday, willing the team to push through several long points and leading AMP to within a point of prequarters.

AMP arrived Saturday morning with an opportunity to hold seed by winning out for 9th place. Injuries to Bulb and Jeff Loperfido forced O-line changes, but the D-line continued to dominate, earning a 7-5 lead versus LA Metro highlighted by consecutive breaks from lines of AMP rookies Keg, Keith, Jesse, Grin, Brian, Andrea and Krista. Unfortunately a loss of focus gave Metro the half-time edge, 8-7. The Southwest team stepped up their intensity after halftime while AMP O continued to struggle, losing 13-8.

Though both losses, AMP’s games against Whagon and Metro showed the team’s great potential for the future. Total team efforts earned several important breaks with athletic, lockdown marking and consistent, system play with the disc. The offense showed flashes of the dominance possible with a bit more seasoning and experience. Plenty to build off of in 2011. AMP!

AMP’s total team effort brought 4 terrific victories in Upperville and the Mid Atlantic Regional Championship! Petter, Raha, Kenny, Jesse and Truskin were recognized as the weekend’s outstanding players. Preparations are now well underway for another run at Nationals.

Congrats to fellow Philly teams Southpaw and Blue Route for their 2nd and 3rd place Regional finishes in open and womens.