Series Review: Boston Forge vs Charlotte Aviators
Scorched Earth
Author: Brandon Borges
The Boston Forge and Charlotte Aviators came into Week Two of the 2025 MLQ season with very different histories, but similarly high expectations. For Boston, the goal was continuity through change: new faces, a new head coach and the same winning standard. For Charlotte, it was about finally clearing a major hurdle. Since joining the league in 2021, the Aviators had never defeated the Forge. Yet with their most experienced core to date and strong preseason projections, this series felt like their best shot yet.
Boston entered the matchup with a younger chaser unit and a recalibrated identity under first-year head coach Kieran Collier. Charlotte, meanwhile, leaned into chemistry and leadership, bringing back nearly all of its key contributors and handing longtime chaser Allison Slominski the reins on the sideline. MLQ Championship seeding implications meant both teams knew a strong opening statement could shape the course of their season.
What followed was a high-energy, hard-hitting series that ended in a 3-0 sweep for the Forge, a result that reinforced their identity and demonstrated the areas the Aviators will need to sharpen if they want to rise to the top of the East.
Game One:
From the opening whistle, Boston wasted no time asserting control in Game One, and they did it by trusting their youngest players. The Forge coaches rolled out rookie chasers Zach Donofrio and Jade Gray in the starting line, and both delivered. Donofrio opened the scoring on a feed from Carsen Olazaba, while Gray made an impactful block on the middle hoop (clip) that set up a fast break the other way.
Boston’s edge, as it so often does, came from its beater dominance. Max Havlin and Erin McCrady immediately seized control on brooms up, drawing in Charlotte’s beaters and creating space for the Forge chasers to operate. When Havlin was joined by Lulu Xu, the pairing lived up to its elite reputation and then some, overwhelming Charlotte. Xu was relentless in closing space and collapsing plays before they could develop, forcing rushed passes and off-balance drives. Their combined pressure led to repeated turnovers and fast breaks, one capped by an assist from Dillon to Persons, and another finished by Dillon after Steinberg forced the initial turnover with his own hard-nosed defense. Charlotte’s brief attempts to reclaim dodgeball control were often shut down quickly by Havlin, thanks to his constant awareness (clip). Time and again, Charlotte’s offense was dismantled before it even began.
Still, Charlotte showed flashes of resilience. M.Y. Monawar exploited a gap in Boston’s transition defense for a fast-break goal and Ryan Davis shifted momentum midway through the first half with a fiery tackle on Stephen Trempel followed by a strip of Sierra Delk. Honoring that defensive stand, Austin Cruz slammed in a dunk, cutting into the deficit and giving Charlotte their most confident stretch of the game (clip).
Josh Peck and Hannah Reese helped Charlotte slow Boston’s pace with gritty, high-energy beater play. Peck brought a spark the Aviators badly needed, and together with Reese, they managed to force stops and hold their own even when Havlin was on the field. But even as the Aviators found some defensive stability, Boston’s chaser corps responded. Sam Magner shuffled past a defender for a drive-and-score and Steinberg showcased his keeper instincts with a wrap up top followed by a full-field run to the hoop. Luiza Nicolae also notched a statement shot off a clever “one-and-a-half” beater play by Tom DeMouth (clip).
At the 20-minute mark, Boston held a commanding 110-40 lead. Charlotte had found some rhythm courtesy of good offensive drives by Davis and Thompson and begun trading goals, but the gap was already too large. The dagger came from seeker Karsten Assoua, who made a swift flag pull before Charlotte could mount a late push. Final goals from a slick assist from Athena Mayor and a shot from Dillon capped off a 175-60 win that reinforced Boston’s identity: fast, physical and relentlessly prepared. This was still a three-game series, however, and Charlotte’s growing composure and renewed defensive effort served as a reminder that they have the grit and personnel to stay competitive.
Game Two:
Game Two opened with a clear tone shift. Charlotte came out with renewed urgency, matching Boston physically and tactically in the early minutes of the game. The Aviators’ beater pair of Tony Bonadio and Micki Haralson played evenly against Havlin and young talent Jess Lee to start the game, giving Charlotte control long enough for Thompson to force a turnover and find Davis on a fast break for the opening goal. Thompson continued to shine on both ends, including a highlight sequence where he shed a tackle, blocked a beat and kept possession alive before a Monawar assist led to a Melissa Ross goal (clip).
Nicolae helped turn the tide for Boston. Her first goal came off Havlin clearing a lane, giving her a wide-open dunk, and she followed that with a key steal on defense to spark Boston’s recovery after a slow start. Persons hit a long-range shot to break a scoring drought, while LaBauve and Richard continued to make life difficult for the Forge offense, especially in the half court. Richard in particular was impactful as a free beater due to their game sense, slowing down Boston’s rhythm and forcing scoreless possessions (clip).
The game slowed into a physical, tactical battle as both teams traded grind-it-out possessions. Cruz broke a four-minute scoring drought for both teams with a finish for Charlotte, only for Gray and Dillon to respond for Boston with well-spaced passing and off-ball movement. A few minutes before the 20-minute stoppage, it was an even game at 40-40, with Charlotte fighting for their first ever win over the Boston Forge.
Then came Donofrio. The rookie chaser scored three straight goals for Boston, finishing off of assists from Olazaba and converting after a heavy tackle opened up space. Persons delivered a statement defensive stop with a crunching tackle behind hoops (clip), while Boston’s offense ran a clean pick play to open the lane for Olazaba to dunk. Even during Flag Runner On Pitch, Boston’s beaters, particularly Havlin and Xu, played with awareness. This was demonstrated by their perfectly timed beats against Charlotte chasers to preserve their lead.
Charlotte found a late answer with a Cruz goal, and Brooks later made an important hit on Steinberg before assisting Thompson behind the hoops. But Boston remained in control. With their seekers unable to end it, Persons found Steinberg on a pinpoint pass to bring Boston to game point, and Havlin cleared the lane for Dillon to walk in the final score. The Forge closed out Game Two 130-80, securing the series win and showcasing the physical resilience of a younger squad still learning how to finish.
Game Three:
With the series already in hand, Boston may have been tempted to coast for Game Three. Instead, they came out with a fire. Havlin and Xu reasserted control from the first possession, and McCrady opened things up with a beater stop that sparked a clean transition finish by Dillon. Boston’s early offense flowed freely, fueled by Xu and Havlin pressuring Charlotte’s beaters and opening space. Gray finished a passing sequence set up by Mayor and Dillon, capitalizing on the disrupted defensive structure.
Charlotte responded with improved structure. Davis began directing traffic early, disrupting Boston with a blocked pass and a fast-break goal following a block from Slominski. LaBauve and Richard found their groove on both ends, reclaiming dodgeball control and pressuring Boston’s chasers into tough looks (clip). Cruz cashed in with a dunk off a cleared lane, and Davis added another score with LaBauve clearing a lane for them.
LaBauve made one of the game’s most creative defensive plays: blocking a shot by throwing a dodgeball at the quadball and knocking it out of bounds (clip). But every time Charlotte closed the gap, Boston responded. Dillon sank a long-range shot and intercepted a pass, while Lee blew up an offensive sequence with sheer hustle. The Forge’s depth was on display, with Tabatha Danyow entering and immediately scoring twice, once off a Guner lead-in and again after forcing a turnover and receiving a pass from Trempel.
Heading into the stoppage, Boston led 90-50. Thompson and Persons traded goals right out of the break, but once again it was Donofrio who changed the game. The rookie chaser posted three straight scores for the second game in a row, taking advantage of precise passing and occasional dodgeball help from Havlin peeling off flag runner coverage.
Davis and Brooks combined for a pair of late goals to try to keep Charlotte in it, but Boston’s offense never lost control. Steinberg scored off a Dillon assist, and with multiple penalties on the field, Dillon fired in the final shot to seal a 150-80 win to complete the series sweep.
Post-series Analysis:
Boston’s sweep was the product of elite beater play, deep chaser rotations and a coaching staff that had confidence in young talent. Havlin continued to be the league’s most reliable tempo-setter, seamlessly rotating through his engagements and chaser pressures. The star of the series, however, was Xu. Xu consistently disrupted Charlotte’s offense, making a veteran squad look rushed, off-balance, and out of sync from start to finish. It is no wonder how she and Havlin have remained the top beaters in the country. Their control of the beater game allowed Boston’s chasers to play freely, especially in transition where players like Dillon and Steinberg thrived.
On the offensive end, Boston’s chemistry grew with each game: Game One was fueled by fast-break efficiency, Game Two proved they could win a grinder and Game Three showcased their ability to get production from every line. Donofrio’s emergence as a go-to scorer, especially in second-half stretches, gave the team a fresh scoring punch. Veterans like Persons and Mayor offered leadership and poise, while the newer faces like Gray gave Boston critical depth and defensive effort. There is still work to be done on the offensive end, especially when the game slows down and beater support is not readily available. That being said, it’s an easy pill to swallow studying film of wins rather than losses.
Looking ahead, the Forge appear ready to contend with the top of the East and evolve beyond their veteran-heavy identity. With reliable contributors up and down the roster and proven flexibility in how they win games, Boston should be confident that they are good and will be better moving forward.
Though the 0-3 result stings, Charlotte’s performance over the weekend wasn’t without substance. Davis was one of the most impactful players on the field, delivering goals, assists, tackles and direction for a team still trying to lock in its identity. When Davis had help, particularly from beaters like LaBauve and Richard, the Aviators played Boston to a near standstill, especially in the first half of Game Two and long stretches of Game Three. Their physicality never wavered, and their defensive shape gradually improved across the series.
Where Charlotte struggled most was with offensive cohesion. Too often, their chasers were left driving into space without the right cuts, or their beaters were unable to support scoring attempts without compromising defensive structure. Even when they held dodgeball control, possessions fell apart due to miscommunication or hesitancy. Still, moments like Cruz’s interior finishes, Brooks’s physicality, White’s cuts and shots and a few smart possessions run through Monawar and Thompson showed that the talent is there.
If the Aviators can better align their offensive timing and continue developing their chaser-beater synergy, they remain a real threat in the East. This is a veteran-heavy team with clear leadership, and with a clear film package of what needs to change before their next series.
Player Highlights:
Standout Performances:
Lulu Xu (BOS) – Controlled the beater game with poise and precision. Her presence as a free beater forced rushed decisions, shut down scoring lanes, and ended countless Charlotte possessions. In a series where beater pressure was central, she delivered it better than anyone on the field.
Max Havlin (BOS) - The most consistently dominant player in the series. Controlled tempo, dictated beater play and even impacted offense late in the game by peeling off flag runner coverage to eliminate threats.
Zach Donofrio (BOS) - The breakout star of the series. Scored three straight goals in both Game Two and Game Three around or after the 20-minute stoppages. Efficient, high-energy and fast-developing as a scoring threat.
Ryan Davis (CLT) - Charlotte’s engine on both ends. Delivered highlight tackles, blocks, assists and goals. Steered the offense and often single-handedly kept Charlotte competitive.
Ethan Dillon (BOS) - Reliable and versatile, with long-range goals, transition finishes and key assists, including the game-winner in Game Three.
Josh Peck (CLT) - One of Charlotte’s most reliable beaters. Helped stabilize the defense and regain dodgeball control multiple times.
Players to Watch:
Emma Persons (BOS) - Made big plays in every game: long-range goals, pinpoint assists and hard hits. Always composed under pressure and a steadying presence on both ends of the field.
Luiza Nicolae (BOS) - Made momentum-changing plays in all three games: early press stops, shot blocks and key goals. Brought consistent edge and energy.
Andrew Steinberg (BOS) - Smart, steady keeper play. Scored in transition, made big defensive wraps, and anchored Boston’s structure through chaos.
Celine Richard (CLT) - Balanced defensive stops and offensive support, applying good pressure on chasers and fighting for control against beaters
Zachary Thompson (CLT) - Defense rounded into form as the series progressed, and fast break running can turn that defense into easy offense
Notable Rookies and Sophomores:
Jade Gray (BOS) - Contributed on both ends: early blocks in Game One, a goal and assist in Game Two and composed play throughout. Fit seamlessly into Boston’s chaser system.
Caleb Brooks (CLT) - Delivered key goals and strong hits, especially in Games 2 and 3. Impactful, physical, and is improving from a solid rookie season.
Karsten Assoua (BOS) - Delivered a great flag pull to ice Game One.
Conclusion:
Boston’s sweep wasn’t just a statement, it was a warning to the rest of the East. With elite beater control, rising rookie talent and veteran composure, the Forge look every bit the team built for another deep postseason run.
For Charlotte, the path forward is about alignment. The pieces are there: leadership, physicality and playmakers on both ends. However, until the chasers and beaters move in sync, they’ll remain just short of flight.
