Fast Takes with FastBreak: New York vs Boston

By: Ryan Leary and Maya Shokrian

Introduction

Boston vs New York: arguably the biggest rivalry in American sports. When it comes to quadball, the Forge and the Titans are no different; this weekend’s upcoming series features the most storied rivals in MLQ. In the first few seasons of MLQ, Forge saw better results, controlling the matchup and winning titles, but over the past few years it’s been all Titans. Last season, New York took the series 2-1 on Boston’s home turf. Lindsay Marella, Leo Fried and the Titans stars stood out like they always do. But a game two loss proved the Titans were not untouchable. 

This season, both teams enter the weekend 3-0 after respectively sweeping the Washington Admirals. New York and Boston each proved that their large roster turnover and new looks were not an issue. But this weekend, the lights are brighter. The games this weekend will prove not only who gets the bragging rights for this year’s Boston/New York rivalry but also who goes into the Eastern Conference Championship as the number one seed and MLQ Championships with a huge advantage.  

Expect the veterans on both sides to shine this weekend. Many players on both the New York and Boston sides of this rivalry have played this series countless times and know what it takes to win this matchup and how it feels to come out on top over their Atlantic Division foes. The names to watch out for this weekend are the usual suspects: Lindsay Marella, Leo Fried, Molly Potter and Tate Kay for New York and Emma Persons, Sena Morimoto, Andrew Steinberg and Tom DeMouth for Boston. 

As the summer moves along, this weekend feels like the biggest thriller on the schedule heading into the championship weekend and, like any Boston vs. New York matchup, it has the potential to be a classic.  

New York

The Titans are riding high coming into this weekend. As Fastbreak News’s #1 team in the power rankings, New York has proven their dominance and is the team to beat. Even with their high roster turnover, their sweep on the road against the Admirals confirms this is the same Titans team as always and they are in championship mode. This weekend will be the Titans’ biggest test of the season before MLQ Championships and unlike their first series of the year, New York is rested and has had a month to prepare.   

Viewers got a glimpse of what this season’s Titans team looks like, but their matchup against the Forge will be their biggest test. Over the span of their first three games, New York featured lines almost exclusively of veterans and their newer players playing separately. It will be interesting to see how head coach Jack Levy draws up chaser lines and beater pairs against Boston. With more time to prepare, will lines look a little different, allowing the Titans to show off the depth of their talent? Or will New York go with what they know works best, their winning formula of stars that has proven to be exceptionally successful?

If New York wins this series, I think it will be because of two key players: Zach Donofrio and Nivash Jayram. Fans did not see much of Jayram against Washington except as seeker, so if he is able to get valuable minutes in the chasing or beating game against the Forge, he could provide a solid impact. Donofrio, playing against his former team, is poised to make a big splash and has the tools and the skill to take over against the Forge. Both Donofrio and Jayram, if they have opportunities to play on the first or second lines, and have had more than a few weeks to grow with the team and build chemistry, will be scary factors for this Titans team and could give them the boost to take the series or sweep, which hasn’t happened since 2023. 

The Titans enter this series against the Forge as clear favorites; they’re the #1 ranked team according to FBN, they’re hungry for a championship after finishing as runner ups last season, and New York hosts their rivals for the biggest matchup of the regular season. While they dominated games 2 and 3 against Washington, the Titans started a little slow against the Admirals and only won the first game by two goals. If the Titans can focus and use the chemistry they’ve been building for the past few weeks to their advantage, they can prove they are the superior team, but if they show signs of weakness or slow down, Boston is hungry to show that the powerhouse Titans are not untouchable. Expect the stars of New York to show up and shine; if the Titans play the way they want to play and get meaningful minutes from everyone  all the way down the roster, this New York team will be a scary opponent to face later in the summer and a good weekend against Boston will put them in right where they want to be looking ahead to MLQ championships.    

Boston: Keeping the Flame Alive

The Forge enters this weekend with plenty of momentum after sweeping the Washington Admirals at home in their first series of the season. The Forge looked strong across all three games, earning a flag catch in each game while showing that the roster could overcome the offseason departures that raised questions heading into the year.

This weekend presents an even bigger challenge. The New York Titans have long been one of the top teams in the Eastern Division and are projected to be the first in the Atlantic Division. With first place on the line, this series will decide who controls the division heading into the postseason.

Last season, New York took the series 2–1, with the Titans securing a flag catch in all three games. Boston's seekers will look to flip that script this weekend. After coming away with a catch in every game against Washington, the Forge have already shown they can capitalize on FROP situations. If they can continue that success against New York, it could prove to be the difference in another tightly contested series.

One of the biggest storylines heading into the weekend will once again be the seeker game. Last summer, New York recorded flag catches in two of the three games, while Boston claimed their lone game in which the Titans did not catch. The Forge opened the 2026 season with a flag catch in all three games against Washington, showing just how dangerous their seekers can be in close contests. Rookie Matan Schwartz made an immediate impact by recording a flag catch in their first-ever MLQ game and Boston will look to carry that momentum into another series where the seeker game could prove to be the difference.

Boston's chaser unit showed promising chemistry during opening weekend, generating offense from multiple lines and consistently creating scoring opportunities. That ability to remain calm in high-pressure situations will prove even more important against New York, a team that has historically made opponents work for every goal. Former Titan Ryan Leary will face her previous team for the first time since joining the Forge, adding another storyline to one of the season’s most anticipated matchups. Veteran chaser and assistant coach Emma Persons will also be counted on to help lead the offense and provide stability in a series where every possession will matter. The Forge will need to take control of each possession, limit turnovers, and capitalize on scoring chances if they want to keep pace with one of the league's strongest defenses.

The beater game could once again be one of the biggest factors in the series. Boston's beaters are strong. Cleo Brooks, Ryan Callaghan and Thomas DeMouth controlled possession for much of their matchup against Washington, allowing the offense to play with confidence while limiting opportunities. Replicating that performance against New York will be a much tougher task, as every dodgeball exchange is likely to have an impact on the game. If Brooks, Callaghan and DeMouth can continue to win dodgeball control and force the Titans into difficult situations, it will go a long way toward helping the Forge control the series.

For Boston, this weekend is about more than avenging last year's series loss. It's an opportunity to take control of the Atlantic Division and continue proving that this new-look roster can compete with the best teams in the league. A strong performance against New York would put the Forge in a great position as the regular season comes to a close.

Outro

When the final whistle blows this weekend, there will be more than just a rivalry victory on the line. Boston and New York have spent years building one of MLQ’s most competitive matchups, and this series will decide who wins the Atlantic Division and goes into the Eastern Conference Championships as the number one seed.

The Titans will look to continue their recent dominance and prove that their championship experience remains the difference-maker, while the Forge will look to turn their early-season momentum into a statement win against one of the league’s best. Every possession, dodgeball battle, and seeker opportunity could decide the outcome of a series where the margin for error will be minimal.

Two undefeated teams. One division lead. A rivalry that never disappoints. Boston and New York are ready to add another memorable chapter to their history.