Seattle Tempest Win First 2026 Game 23-14 over Colorado Alpenglow
By Becca Weinberg
Seattle, WA - The Seattle Tempest began their 2026 Western Ultimate League (WUL) season strong with a commanding 23-14 home win over the Colorado Alpenglow. After facing an early goal deficit to start the game, Seattle was able to recover and begin connecting passes more efficiently. After Week 2, the Tempest are in first place in the North Conference with a +9 goal differential, which is tied for best in the league. Impact players in this game include rookie hybrid player Jamie Kauffman, who had one goal, three assists, and three blocks, and veteran handler Cheryl Hsu, who recorded five assists and showed her veteran presence on the field with 45/47 throws completed.
Photo by Henry Jensen
First quarter: 5-6
While utilizing their fast-moving offense, the Alpenglow started out the game with a 4-1 lead and forced the Tempest to adapt quickly. Multiple miscommunications and throwing errors led the Tempest to a difficult time connecting their downfield cuts with handler movement early on. However, once they were able to settle in and patiently connect passes, Seattle cut the Colorado lead down to one by the end of the first quarter. Goals from cutter Nina Finley, cutter Ciona Antolin, handler Sami Dellapenta, hybrid player Jamie Kauffman, and cutter Alexa Kirkland got the Tempest back in the game with multiple assists each from handlers Cheryl Hsu and Kaitlynne Rolling. Defensive stops from cutter Meg Manning and handler Charlie Eide additionally regained possession for Seattle to stop the quick Colorado offense.
Second quarter: 12-9
The Tempest would score seven goals in the second quarter compared to the Alpenglow’s three, and enter halftime with a three goal lead. In the first point of the quarter, a block from handler Drea Baroma resulted in a quick goal from handler Jess Spaulding that completely shifted the game’s momentum in favor of the Tempest. Another block the following point from Kauffman got the disc back in Tempest hands, and Kauffman found Manning in the endzone for the first Tempest lead of the game. Seattle was able to break through Colorado’s defense with quick handler movement, utilizing small passing windows, and beating defenders deep to combine for an exciting end to the first half. Additional goals scored by Kirkland and Finley were assisted by Baroma and Hsu, and more defensive excellence from Kauffman and cutter Lauren Page helped the Tempest keep the lead.
Third quarter: 17-12
The third quarter featured points of back-and-forth action that included multiple turnovers from both teams, but the Tempest stepped up in those transition moments when it mattered most. Two Seattle goals started the quarter, first with a Kauffman to Manning connection and next with Hsu finding Spaulding in the endzone with a huge layout grab. Colorado answered back, but the Tempest continued to pile on with three goals in a row, starting with Kirkland assisted by Baroma. A textbook Antolin block resulted in Antolin throwing to diving cutter Anna Pettee, and a huge grab over multiple defenders by Page set up a floater from handler Amy Nguyen to wide-open cutter Alexa Romersa. While the Alpenglow were finally able to stop the Tempest momentum, a block by cutter Yeh-Sun Lee ended the third quarter, and Seattle showed no signs of slowing down.
Photo by Henry Jensen
Fourth quarter: 23-14
Once again, the Tempest would outscore Colorado in this quarter, with six points compared to the Alpenglow’s two. Two goals each from Page and cutter Gemma Munck, and one from Finley and Baroma brought the Seattle goal total to 23 with assists from Dellapenta, Rolling, Kauffman, and Kirkland. Defensive blocks from Munck, Antolin, and Kauffman came in key moments when Colorado was approaching the endzone, and the Tempest used their transition offense to find deep, downfield targets to score. The Seattle roster came alive in the second half and looked like a much more complete team after their first game of the 2026 WUL season.
Photo by Henry Jensen
Stat of the game:
In their first game of the season, the Tempest recorded a total of 18 blocks, the most of any team in a single game so far this season through two weeks of play. The Seattle defense was a key turning point in this game to string together multiple goals in a row.
What’s next?
The Tempest will enter another bye week before hosting the Utah Wild in Week 4 on April 3rd at 7:30 PM. Utah lost its only game of the season so far to the Arizona Sidewinders, and currently sits in last place in the North Conference. Seattle will hope to carry the momentum from this win into Week 4 and remain on top.
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Instagram: @CirclingSeattleSports Twitter: @CirclingSports Threads: @CirclingSeattleSports Tiktok: @CirclingSeattleSports Facebook: Circling Seattle Sports BlueSky: @circlingseasports.bsky.social 〰️
Check out our previous Seattle Tempest articles here.
Check out our previous articles with writing for CSS by Becca Weinberg here, and her work with Lookout Landing here.
Cover photo and photos in this article by Henry Jensen.
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