Match Day 4 - Buffalo Mafia vs Pittsburgh Chaos
Buffalo Mafia Outlast Pittsburgh Chaos 14–10 in Match Day 4 Clash
By NSL Analyst Staff
The Buffalo Mafia and Pittsburgh Chaos have always had a knack for producing high-drama contests, and Match Day 4 was no exception. With the postseason looming, Pittsburgh entered desperate to keep its playoff aspirations alive, while Buffalo looked to prove that their retooled roster could close out tight, gritty matchups against elite competition. Over the course of a tense afternoon filled with momentum swings, questionable calls, and individual brilliance, Buffalo emerged with a 14–10 victory, pushing Pittsburgh to the brink.
2v2s: Trading Early Punches
Game 1 – Chase Stevenson & Chance vs. Doug Kirkwood Jr. & Anthony Pineda
Buffalo came out of the gate sharp, with Chase and rookie Chance connecting on a couple of early scores through clean mid- and long-range throws. The game stayed in their control until a pivotal coaching misstep on Stretch 4, when Buffalo opted against trusting Chance with the final throw. That hesitation cracked the door for Pittsburgh, and Doug and Anthony kicked it wide open with a momentum-shifting six-point play. From there, the Chaos tightened their grip and controlled the pace to take Game 1, 10–4. PITT 2 – BUFF 0.
Game 2 – Jeff Breen & Thomas Rhodes vs. Kenzee Thornley & Carlyn Burgeson
This matchup featured the NSL debut of Carlyn Burgeson, signed earlier in the week after impressing in Thursday night league play. Partnered with veteran Kenzee, she helped Pittsburgh inch ahead 5–4, largely through consistent establishing play. But in one of the afternoon’s defining moments, a failed Pitt establish on the “X” allowed Buffalo to drop a massive 12-point bomb in a single round. It was a gut punch that Pitt never recovered from, as Breen and Rhodes closed out a 25–6 statement win. PITT 2 – BUFF 2.
Game 3 – Jake Ferrari & Erik Johnson vs. Jeff Nail & Eddie Scroxton
This was a captain’s battle on both sides, with Buffalo’s Jake and Erik matching up against Pittsburgh’s Jeff Nail, supported by a locked-in Eddie Scroxton. The game turned into a war of positioning, both teams deliberately avoiding sand traps and instead setting awkward marks on tricky patches of grass. Eddie proved the difference-maker with 4 knockouts, while Buffalo’s afternoon unraveled with 10 combined out-of-bounds throws. A couple of cruel bounces sealed it, and Pittsburgh walked away with a gritty 13–8 win. PITT 4 – BUFF 2.
Game 4 – Alex Milliner & Hunter Barrett vs. Collin Finch & Roger Paquin
Buffalo’s high-upside pairing of Milliner and rookie Hunter Barrett found themselves in a seesaw contest against Collin Finch and Roger Paquin. The lead changed hands three times, with both sides favoring long establishes over short, safe play. Collin delivered a kiss on Stretch 4 to edge Pitt back in front, but in the decisive moment, Milliner threaded a perfect throw on Stretch 5 to swing it 8–7 for Buffalo. The win evened the match heading into singles. PITT 4 – BUFF 4.
1v1s: Buffalo’s Depth Takes Over
Game 1 – Chase Stevenson vs. Carlyn Burgeson
Fresh off injury, Chase looked to shake off rust, but Carlyn made it clear she wasn’t intimidated by the former world champion. She built an 8–4 lead by Stretch 3 with disciplined play, tallying 3 knockouts, a kiss, and an assist. But once again, the “X” proved Pittsburgh’s undoing — Carlyn failed to secure the establish, and Chase drilled a six-pointer to flip the game on its head. Even with 11 out-of-bounds throws, Chase’s experience carried him to a 20–9 win, stealing all the momentum. PITT 4 – BUFF 5.
Game 2 – Thomas Rhodes vs. Anthony Pineda
For Thomas, this was a must-win redemption match after a poor showing against Jamestown earlier in the season. He wasted no time setting the tone, opening with a six on the first landing and never relinquishing control. His accuracy neutralized Anthony’s offense, and with nine out-of-bounds throws from Pitt’s side, the gap widened quickly. Thomas cruised to a 16–5 victory, giving Buffalo breathing room. PITT 4 – BUFF 6.
Game 3 – Alex Milliner vs. Roger Paquin
Roger came into this matchup with a defensive mindset, and it paid off in full. He out-positioned Milliner on nearly every throw, racking up 4 knockouts, a kiss, and 2 assists. By Stretch 4, Alex’s frustration was evident, his body language showing he knew the game had slipped away. Roger’s control was absolute, delivering a commanding 15–3 win for Pittsburgh. PITT 5 – BUFF 6.
Game 4 – Jeff Nail vs. Erik Johnson
Whenever these two captains square off, the crowd expects fireworks — and they got them. Stretch 1 alone produced 5 combined knockouts, setting the tone for an aggressive duel. Erik was unstoppable, posting 10 knockouts and 2 assists, while Jeff battled with 6 knockouts and 2 kisses. But as the game wore on, Jeff was forced into riskier throws, resulting in 3 errors and 2 water balls. Erik capitalized, turning a tight game into a decisive 22–6 win. PITT 5 – BUFF 7.
Game 5 – Jake Ferrari vs. Doug Kirkwood Jr.
If there was any doubt about Jake’s place among the league’s elite, he erased it here. In one of the most dominant singles performances in NSL history, Jake landed three sixes — a season-high — and piled up 31 points, also a 1v1 season record. Doug, despite a solid season overall, couldn’t find his rhythm and fell victim to 14 out-of-bounds throws. Buffalo won 31–3, sending a shockwave through the league. PITT 5 – BUFF 8.
Game 6 – Hunter Barrett vs. Collin Finch
The rookie sensation kept his perfect record alive. Hunter opened with a six on Stretch 1, forcing Collin to play catch-up from the start. While Finch managed 5 knockouts, the early deficit proved insurmountable. Hunter’s composed play and timely scoring led to a 19–7 win, further cementing Buffalo’s control. PITT 5 – BUFF 9.
Game 7 – Eddie Scroxton vs. Chance
Eddie Money brought his A-game, putting on a clinic with 3 knockouts, a kiss, 2 sixes, and an assist. His consistent establishes left Chance with no room to work, and the rookie struggled mightily, managing only 2 points and 14 out-of-bounds throws. Pittsburgh took this one convincingly, 19–2. PITT 6 – BUFF 9.
Game 8 – Kenzee Thornley vs. Jeff Breen
If there was a personal subplot to this match, this was it. Jeff Breen, once a Pittsburgh player, faced one of the league’s most respected veterans in Kenzee. Breen played with something to prove, unleashing 8 knockouts and 2 sixes in a performance that had the crowd buzzing. Kenzee responded with 3 knockouts and 3 assists, but Jeff had an answer for everything. Buffalo walked away with a 26–5 win that felt like a turning point in the match. PITT 6 – BUFF 10.
4v4s: Closing the Door
Game 1 – Thomas, Hunter, Chance, Colton vs. Jeff, Eddie, Slug, Roger
Buffalo entered the team rounds needing just one win to clinch. This first 4v4, however, was a mismatch. Pittsburgh’s veterans — led by Roger and Jeff — dictated the game from start to finish, cashing in on Buffalo’s sloppy play. Twelve out-of-bounds and 3 water balls from the Mafia handed Pitt a 12–4 win, tying the match and setting up a high-stakes finale. PITT 10 – BUFF 10.
Game 2 – Jake, Alex, Erik, Jeff vs. Kenzee, Carlyn, Anthony, Doug
With the season’s momentum on the line, Buffalo rolled out their heavy artillery. Pittsburgh kept it tight through the first two stretches, but a baffling decision to establish on the bridge backfired badly, allowing Buffalo to score a crushing six. From there, the Mafia’s confidence soared, and they piled on points in every round. The 16–3 win sealed the match and left Pittsburgh wondering what might have been.
Final Score: Buffalo 14 – Pittsburgh 10
This was Buffalo’s depth and leadership on full display. From Jake Ferrari’s historic singles performance to Jeff Breen’s emotional win over his former club, the Mafia found a way to deliver when it mattered most. Pittsburgh, for all its flashes of brilliance, couldn’t shake the costly errors and strategic miscues that turned winnable games into heartbreak.
Match Day 4 MVP: Jeff Breen (Buffalo Mafia)
If there was one player who truly shaped the outcome of Buffalo’s 14–10 win over Pittsburgh, it was Jeff Breen. The former Chaos player came into this matchup with extra motivation, and it showed from the first throw. Breen posted an NSL-best 60.5 fantasy score, fueled by 41 points, 8 knockouts, and 5 sixes.
He was clinical in 1v1 play, completely dismantling Kenzee Thornley — one of the league’s most consistent veterans — by scoring in nearly every round and refusing to let Pittsburgh gain momentum. Even beyond the raw numbers, Breen’s play style was disruptive; he forced Pittsburgh into defensive positions, dictated pace, and turned what could have been a nail-biter into a statement win for Buffalo. This was a revenge game in every sense, and Breen’s performance will be talked about as one of the season’s defining singles showings.
Side Notes & Key Takeaways
Jake Ferrari’s Record-Setting Game
Jake’s 39 points and 4 sixes don’t tell the full story — his 1v1 against Doug Kirkwood Jr. was pure domination. The three sixes tied the NSL single-game mark for a 1v1 and gave Buffalo a knockout punch midway through the match.Erik Johnson’s Two-Way Brilliance
Erik’s 14 knockouts led all players, showing elite defensive control. His ability to both clear threats and score in tight spaces was critical in the captain’s duel against Jeff Nail.Hunter Barrett’s Rookie Composure
Hunter put up 21 points with 3 knockouts and 2 sixes in just his second NSL appearance. His opening six in the 1v1 versus Collin Finch set the tone and showed he can swing momentum early.Roger Paquin: The Chaos Bright Spot
For Pittsburgh, Roger was steady and dangerous. His 21 points, 7 knockouts, and 3 kisses in the singles against Alex Milliner not only got them a win but also prevented Buffalo from completely running away with the 1v1 round.Costly Out-of-Bounds
The stat line says it all:Eddie Scroxton (18 OOB), and Kenzee Thornley (16 OOB) struggled to keep throws in play. Those errors gave Buffalo extra possessions and scoring chances they capitalized on.4v4 Turning Point
Game 2 of the 4v4s — Buffalo’s “juggernaut” lineup — was the dagger. A questionable bridge establish by Pittsburgh gave Buffalo a six, and the Mafia never looked back, scoring every round to close the match.
| Player ↕ | Fantasy ↕ | Points ↕ | KOs ↕ | Kisses ↕ | Sixes ↕ | Assists ↕ | OOB ↕ | Errors ↕ | Water ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUFF Jake Ferrari | 52 | 39 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 1 |
| BUFF Erik Johnson | 45.5 | 30 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 17 | 3 | 1 |
| BUFF Jeff Breen | 60.5 | 41 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 11 | 1 | 2 |
| BUFF Alex Milliner | 6.5 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 3 |
| BUFF Chase Stevenson | 19 | 24 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 0 |
| BUFF Thomas Rhodes | 28.5 | 29 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 2 | 2 |
| BUFF Chance | -6.75 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 1 |
| BUFF Hunter Barrett | 24.75 | 21 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 1 | 0 |
| BUFF Colton | 0.5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Player ↕ | Fantasy ↕ | Points ↕ | KOs ↕ | Kisses ↕ | Sixes ↕ | Assists ↕ | OOB ↕ | Errors ↕ | Water ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PITT Jeff Nail | 20.5 | 17 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 3 | 2 |
| PITT Kenzee Thornley | 26.75 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 16 | 1 | 0 |
| PITT Carlyn Burgeson | 18.25 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 15 | 0 | 2 |
| PITT Doug Kirkwood Jr. | 6.25 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 1 | 0 |
| PITT Anthony Pineda | 13.25 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 1 | 0 |
| PITT Roger Paquin | 36.75 | 21 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 1 | 1 |
| PITT Eddie Scroxton | 34.25 | 27 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 0 | 2 |
| PITT Collin Finch | 15.5 | 14 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 3 |