Its time! Vlastislav Malik and the Up-and-Comers had a few practices under their belt and were starting to really gel. Now, it was time to go up against their first test, the Grizzled Vets! Who's on the team you ask? Malik didn't know any of them to be honest, besides Lyle Odelein, a fellow NOLA vet. Besides that, Malik had a vague idea that there were several HAM, BUF, and TEX vets on the squad. Not going to lie, there were nerves involved. Regardless of how skilled the Up-and-Comers were, they had never faced a team with as much cumulative experience as the Grizzled Vets. So, they came up with a game plan and stuck to it! They would need to utilize their speed on the fast break and play a sound defensive game to limit the Vets' chances. Everyone bought in to the plan! Their goalie had to make several big saves and that he did! It was a close game, but they squeaked out a 3-2W, off a last-minute game-winner by Cian McFelter, assisted by Malik and Valterri Kauppinen. Malik was never so happy to see McFelter continue his ball hog tendencies. One W down, who's next?