Combo Recap + Preview - DC vs. NY (4/26/26) and DC vs. ATL (5/9/26)
After all the hype leading up to the Gridlock v. Shadow matchup a couple weeks ago, the game certainly did not disappoint. Whether you were there in person feeling the raindrops on your shoulders or sitting warm and comfy inside, hopefully your eyes were glued to the action for the entirety of the game. Initially, it appeared that Shadow might run away with it, as they jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the blink of an eye (but we all weren’t blinking because the action was so captivating, right?). DC was playing confident, sure-handed, and committed to their game plan offensively and defensively. Everything was clicking with a widespread statline of goals, assists, and blocks, indicating a whole-team contribution (we love to see it!) However, once Gridlock found their footing, the teams mostly traded after the start, leading to a 9-4 Shadow lead at half.
Perhaps Gridlock should change their name to “grit”-lock because the team impressively kept their foot on the gas despite the multi-goal deficit for basically the whole game thus far. On the back of some great movement and connection from both O and D lines, Gridlock chipped away at Shadow’s lead to only be down 9-12 at the end of the 3rd. Grace Conerly, Jolie Krebs, Abby Hecko, and Yina Cartagena were firing on all cylinders. After a lot of physicality on both sides, exemplifying the teams’ passion and fight, Gridlock cut their deficit to just one (11-12 and 12-13), with the ball to tie it with less than 6 minutes left. But fear not! With the help of incredible defensive efforts from Ashleigh Jentilet and Amanda “Beans” Murphy as well as smart and savvy timeout calls from the coaches, Shadow held on strong. As a bonus, after some brief confusion regarding the clock, DC even scored on the last possession after time expired to seal the victory at 16-12. Woohoo!
Now after an off-weekend, Shadow looks ahead to their next away game versus Atlanta Soul. Don’t dim your excitement for this one either because both teams are undefeated, leading the South Division. Both teams have also had a fair amount of roster turnover from 2025 to 2026, with Atlanta adding some big names this year, including Colombians Ximena Montaña and Elizabeth Mosquera, current DC resident Marie Perivier, and long-time Fury player Dena Elimelech. These are all athletic, powerful players that are very capable on both sides of the disc. Tack on the staying power of Mia Griner, Quincy Booth, Liv Ford, and more, and Atlanta has certainly improved their depth from previous seasons.
Although Atlanta is bound to bring a variety of skills to the table, Shadow will likely aim to contain Soul’s deep throws, or perhaps bait them and let their own playmakers show what they have to offer. Offensively, DC will certainly continue to rely upon the steady backfield of Smalling, Flores, and Smith and continue finding that coveted chemistry and connection to the downfield cutters. But don’t just take my word for it! Be sure to tune in the PUL YouTube channel this Saturday at 5pm EST to see what else the game has in store.
