Impact WINS Chicago PSP 2014

Much like the weather in Joliet, IL (landing site for the PSP Chicago), the ride to first place was not clear skies. A field built for aggressive play combined with a thunder storm featuring an on/off switch from the heavens made for some exciting gameplay.

Sunday – the sacred day of Finals – shared a field full of mud baths and small pools, though much different than your local spa would have.The game began as any paintball loving fan can wish for with solid laning, heavy play down the snake and dorito sides of the field, and a see-saw of points earned. Also included in the game was a fantastic match-up of snake play effort throughout the entire tournament by Houston Heat pair Chad George and Ryan Moorhead against Edmonton Impact pair Justin Cornell and Justin Rabackoff. The first four points took the clock down to 13:26 with some quick points thanks to uneven matches from players getting shot off the break.

Whether it was the great gun skills of both teams, the almost impossible attempt at getting traction coming out of the starting gate, or a combination of both it was hard for Houston and Edmonton alike to make it out with five players alive.Then…in unique fashion rarely seen in professional matches, there was an onslaught of penalties against the Heat team that had been riding head to head against Impact. Houston would only see five players starting a point once more for the rest of this match…but we’ll get back to that.

Chicago PSP 2014, Edmonton Impact vs. Houston Heat, the score is Tied 2-2, 13:26 left on the clock with a considerable amount of time to change the game for better or worse on each side, and major penalties are suffered by both Jon Woodley and Ryan Moorhead (whom after taking time off for a recent knee injury had been playing flawless). Making quick work of the power play action Justin Cornell continues his snake side demolition by appearing so suddenly in the 50 (halfway down the field for those that are not familiar with the term) snake that you would think he was a magician. As if it wasn’t enough to have 2 of his fellow teammates in the penalty box, Woodley of Heat honored the team with their third major penalty of the match in the following point.

Edmonton Impact, with the game in their favor 3-2, made quick work of the five versus two – severely onesided – breakouts for the next two points winning both in under 50 seconds each. On the eighth point Heat finally was able to breakout with four players at least, but still was not able to change the momentum back in their favor.

Edmonton Impact Wins PSP Chicago 2014 – after playing 5-on-5 for the first time since the 4th point of the match the game was just too tilted in the favor of the Canadians. Almost seeming to be the metaphoric symbol of this match, Justin Rabackoff bunkered out the last remaining Heat player on the dorito side, and just as their hopes had been shattered by the sheer number of major penalties so was this point.With the score reading 7-2, the penalties counting to 3 majors, the majority of points played with lopsided breakouts, the moral of the story is – a win, is a win, is a win. And with 8:25 still left on the clock, it certainly remains as a statement that Impact is ready to contend for that first place finish into the next tournament and is not just the best second place team.

-Preston Rodriguez

Edmonton Impact was able to play this field layout very well throughout the entire tournament, and although their Finals match against Houston Heat was ultimately affected by major penalties, they created a great showing at the PSP Chicago 2014 Event. With the aggressive layout of the field and the rarely seen sideways center bunker, there was a lot of unorthodox play going on from every team. Edmonton Impact was able to stay in control with a great showing from snake player Justin Cornell, with Justin Rabackoff backing him up. Along with that Timothy Raney Stanczak had a solid showing with multiple clutch play appearances throughout the tournament to keep Edmonton in the driver’s seat. After suffering through multiple second place finishes Impact was able to breath easy getting their first PSP win since the 2010 season.

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