1/24-25/26 - UCSD Dragon Coalition Slays at Santa Barbara Invite
UCSD Dragon Coalition was very excited for its first tournament of the regular season. On the first day, the universe seemed to be on the team’s side, as games did not begin until 12:30 p.m. The first matchup of the day was against the Berkeley Pie Queens. Inevitably, nerves were present and some mistakes were made, but the rookies hit the ground running, showcasing impressive skill and talent in their first collegiate tournament. In the end, the Dragons came away with a solid 11–7 victory.
Next on the docket was UC Davis, with the game featured on Ultiworld. By this point, the Dragons had shaken off their nerves and truly found their rhythm. They secured a 12–8 win, giving them two victories heading into what was arguably their toughest matchup of the tournament: Carleton. Known for consistent excellence and coming off a second-place finish at last year’s National Championships, Carleton posed a major challenge. UCSD came prepared to compete, scoring on the opening point and trading holds for much of the first half. Ultimately, Carleton gained momentum and defeated D-Co 13–6. Carleton would go on to win SBI, making UCSD’s six points against them an impressive showing.
After finishing pool play 2–1, the Dragons safely advanced to prequarters, though they did not expect to face SLO in that round. SLO had been UCSD’s biggest rival the previous season, with many games decided by a single point, so the team was fired up for a night game under the lights. D-Co came out swinging, highlighted by a Callahan from Mars Bau late in the second half.
On the second day of the tournament, UCSD faced the reigning national champions, UBC, in the quarterfinals. Despite strong effort, the Dragons fell behind and ultimately lost 13–5. Given the caliber of the opponent, the team quickly shook off the loss and shifted focus to the remainder of the tournament.
The fifth-place semifinals featured a matchup against the University of Victoria, a familiar opponent that UCSD had beaten multiple times in the past. Still adjusting to new systems and building chemistry with new teammates, the Dragons faced a UVic team that leaned heavily on their strongest handler-to-cutter connection. D-Co fell short in this matchup but remained confident that a future rematch would swing in UCSD’s favor.
The final game of the weekend was against Oregon, a strong team that had struggled throughout the tournament due to injuries. After a fun interaction with the observers, play began. Determined to end the weekend on a high note, the Dragons brought high energy and intensity, earning a victory over Oregon. With that win, UCSD finished seventh overall, held its seed, and secured an important win over an out-of-region opponent.
The first major tournament of the season is always a revealing experience, offering insight into how a team stacks up against top competition and what kind of energy it brings. Not only does Dragon Coalition’s future look bright, but the team atmosphere was filled with love, support, and enthusiasm. D-Co’s passion for frisbee is clear, and the team is excited for the rest of the season ahead.
