It has been a long and gruelling season for the UEL Phoenix as they finish the season with a 5-3 record and a spot in the play-offs.
The season started off with a redesign for the team, from being known as the Titans to now being called the Phoenix, with the process causing stress throughout the team, from a shortage of equipment to a lack of branding.
The team brushed away the issues they faced as they prepared for their first game of the season against Anglia Ruskin University.
Despite the issues, the Phoenix got off to a great start by defeating Anglia Ruskin by a convincing margin. A 9-25 victory ensured they started the season top of the table but the fairy-tale didn’t last long.
New Beginnings
The following encounter against Queen Mary University had all the emotions you would want in a game. The Phoenix started the match brilliantly by taking an early 20-0 start, but soon after they crumbled. Queen Mary mounted a huge comeback to win the game 30-32, causing a devastating blow to the confidence of all players.
Quarterback Jeremy Snyder along with the team were disappointed with outcome but were adamant the result wouldn’t get to them: “QMU fought their way back and we just couldn’t get momentum swing back our way. Moments like that, where we have to face adversity, is only going to help us stronger.”
Gaining Momentum
The defeat made the Phoenix stronger and resilient as brushed aside the previous game and put in a dominating performance against the Greenwich Mariners. A brilliant 21-0 win meant UEL began the season 2-1 and in great position. A strong defensive performance helped the offence as they got their first clean sheet of the season, a rare thing to see in American Football.
They built on their victory by getting revenge on Queen Mary in the next fixture. After a devastating defeat in the second game of the season, UEL were out for revenge and it’s exactly what they got. A 7-18 victory away from home was what they needed and it boosted their hopes of a play-off berth.
On a two-game win streak and a 3-1 record, the momentum stayed with UEL as they faced a difficult game against Essex University. Unlike the convincing wins against Queen Mary and Greenwich, this one was a shootout and in the end, a field goal was the difference maker as they defeated Essex 2-3 at home to go 4-1 and mount a serious play-off shot.
However, the next two games were damaging for the Phoenix. A three-game winning streak meant the Phoenix’s confidence was sky high but they were soon brought back to reality with two straight losses against Anglia Ruskin and Essex University.
Showing Resilence
The two defeats meant the game against Greenwich was a must win if they wanted a play-off spot and that’s exactly what they did, and it was done in style.
The Phoenix got their second clean sheet of the season as they defeated the Mariners 15-0 away. The win also meant it was their second clean sheet against Greenwich which made it sweeter for the team.
It was a tough and long season for the Phoenix but qualifying for the playoffs made it worthwhile for Jeremy and his teammates: “This season has been up and down with different injuries and circumstances, but we have fought through it.
I’ve only been a part of this team for a couple of months but I couldn’t be prouder. This is great for the UEL American Football programs going forward.”
Playoff Preperation
As they prepare for their biggest game of the season against Oxford Brooks University, the team are in high spirits as they continue the same routine that brought them to the playoffs: “This week we will continue our normal training schedule and continue to get better. If we can focus on what we do and become skilled at what we do, then we can be a force in the playoffs.
For the first time in the competition, the UEL Phoenix will compete in the play-offs and after a hard-fought season, the Phoenix aren’t done just yet.
