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The Outfit Mon Aug 26 2013
Syndicate Heads to Playoffs on High Note
In roller derby, almost no lead is safe until the final whistle blows.
That idea was on display Saturday as the Syndicate, the A-team of the Chicago Outfit, narrowly defeated the A-team of Madison's Dairyland Dolls, 254-244.
Saturday's win allowed the Syndicate to end their regular season on a high note. They head to Salem, OR Sept. 27-29 for the Women's Flat Track Derby Association Division 1 playoffs.
The Syndicate jumped out to a big lead early. In the third jam, The Joan Ranger came out of the penalty box and scored 17 points to put the Syndicate up 24-4. In the following jam, the Syndicate's Lola Blow took full advantage of Madison's jammer being in the penalty box by scoring 25 as their blockers kept Madison from scoring at all.
The Syndicate took advantage of several power jams throughout the half and took a 150-86 lead into the locker room.
Things started to turn around in the second half. Though the Syndicate started strong, Madison chipped away at the lead, pulling to within 10 points -- 246-236 -- with 52 seconds to play.
But the Syndicate's Queefer Sutherland got lead jammer in the final jam and ran down the clock after scoring 8 to give the home team the win.
The Syndicate's Valerie of the Dolls said that had they not had so many penalties, the score might not have been so close.
"We were really penalty heavy in the second half," she said.
Her teammate, Ivana Schoop, agreed and said the Syndicate needs to work on keeping their jammers out of the penalty box before they head to Oregon.
"You can't win a game if your jammer's out," she said.
Ivana Schoop said that she's excited about the playoffs in general, but is really looking forward to the Syndicate's first opponent -- the Victoria Roller Derby League of Melbourne, Australia.
"I'm really looking forward to the Aussies, our first matchup," she said. "I'm excited to see how they play. I don't know what to expect. We haven't played against them. We expect a good derby game."
In other action Saturday, the Shade Brigade, the Outfit's B-team, lost to Madison's B-team 370-135.
