(Editor’s Note – Continuing our preview of this Sunday’s championship match. Eli “I know Fresh Kills better than they know themselves” weighs in with his take on the game)

Never underestimate the heart of a champion. Fresh Kills could have rolled over and called it a season in the quarterfinals, after Jeff “Hawk” Hawkins’ second goal of the game put the Butchers up 2-0 early in the second half. However, the defending champions rallied back, and captain Dave Sokolyansky tied the game in the final minute of regulation. Rookie forward Gabe Chenard’s overtime goal, his second of the game, sent Fresh Kills on to the semifinals and a matchup with What The Puck, their opponent from the 2011 championship game. Less than ten minutes into this game, Fresh Kills was once again at a crossroads, as What The Puck had jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead. Once again, Fresh Kills could have rolled over, but once again they roared back in the second half, scoring three times after the halftime break, including Kevin “The Planet” Foster’s game-winning goal with three minutes remaining in regulation.

If Fresh Kills’ heart should not be underestimated, then neither should LBS, Inc.’s resiliency. The Corporation has advanced to the championship game for the first time since 2004 via two one-goal victories and a shootout win. In the Round of 16, LBS, Inc. clamped down defensively and knocked off a dangerous Filthy Gorgeous squad, with Karsten Pichon scoring the only goal of the game early in the second half. In the quarterfinals, the Corporation trailed Poutine Machine for most of the game but fought back with two goals in the final ten minutes of regulation to force overtime, and advanced to the semifinals via the randomness of a postseason shootout. Awaiting LBS, Inc. in the semifinals were the regular season champion Corlears Hookers, who were already penciled in to the championship game by most pundits. The Corporation showed no fear, though, eliminating the top seed in a spirited game that was better than advertised.

So the big question now is who wins on Sunday. Fresh Kills and LBS, Inc. did face off once in the regular season, on August 5, when the two teams fought to a 2-2 draw. That result hammers home that this should be an evenly matched game that could flip either way depending on how the ball bounces on Sunday. But I have been covering Fresh Kills for the bulk of the season, and despite my respect and admiration for LBS, Inc.’s resiliency throughout the playoffs, my thoughts for Sunday keep coming back to those seven words: Never underestimate the heart of a champion.