Matteo Nobile, Correspondent Halifax Thunderbirds
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Featured Image Photo Credit: Trevor MacMillan
On Saturday January 18, the Scotiabank Centre home of the Halifax Thunderbirds (5-0) hosted for the first time in their inaugural season, the San Diego Seals (1-5). The Thunderbirds one of two expansion teams in the NLL, are off to a red hot start winning their first four games. They were looking to continue their winning streak and remain undefeated against the Seals who were hungry for a win and turning their season around after winning only one of their first four games. This low scoring battle had both goaltenders showcasing their talents each only allowing four goals in the first three quarters. Seals net-minder, Frank Scigliano allowed a total of eight goals on 41 shots. Warren Hill the Thunderbirds powerhouse earned himself the second Star of the Night with an outstanding performance only allowing five goals after facing 62 shots. With the game tied 4-4 heading into the final quarter Stephen Keogh (3G) took the game into his own hands scoring the final three goals of the game securing the win for the Thunderbirds. His natural hat-trick kept the Halifax Thunderbirds undefeated as they would win the game 8-5.
The Thunderbirds were the first to strike with a goal from Kyle Jackson (2G, 1A). Jackson used his speed to beat his defender down goal line extended; caught flight diving across the crease; got Scigliano cheating the far side post and jammed it in short side. After a big save from Hill the Thunderbirds took advantage of a fast break. A cross-crease pass from Jake Withers (1A) found Ryan Benesch (1G, 2A) for the score short side tally. Zach Greer (3G, 1A) opened up the scoring for the Seals after getting a rebound off of a low shot from Wes Berg (2A). Greer put it over Hill as he tried to get back to his feet. Conner Fields (1G, 1A) was able to advantage on the power-play for San Diego; and great ball movement which led to a miscommunicated slide allowing Fields to have more than enough time to tie the game. At the end of the first quarter, the game was tied 2-2.
Game Highlights: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lLWgHSN1RAxgsth78NGowwd9Ivr5LkEH/view?usp=sharing
The Thunderbirds were short-handed for the majority of the second quarter but managed to only allow the Seals to score one regular strength goal. The Thunderbirds capitalized on a short-handed marker with one of their guys in the box. Mike Burke (2G, 1A) surprised Scigliano with a shot as he looked to come up and around a pick but snuck the ball between Scigliano’s right leg and the post. The Seals answered back as Greer was able to somehow find a way, with defenders all around him, to put the ball in off the leg of Hill with a crease dive goal. The quarter ended with each team only notching one goal apiece. The first half ended with the score tied once again: Seals 3—Thunderbirds 3.
The Seals scored first to start off the third quarter with a great move from Jeremy Noble (1G, 1A). He jabbed, stepped low and came high beating his man through the middle scoring right on the doorstep giving the Seals their first lead of the night. It took over eight minutes, but the Thunderbirds would answer back taking advantage on a Seals penalty. After Cody Jamieson (4A) and Burke played some pass at the top, the Seals short man unit failed to commit to Burke giving him a wide-open look from the shooter’s spot and he bounced the ball in far side. San Diego was a thorn in the side of the Halifax coffin and just wouldn’t go away. At the end of the third, the game was still tied 4-4.
Unlike the other three frames, the fourth got going quickly and only 47 seconds in. After a transition shot from Brandon Clelland (1A) and a great save by Hill; Fields grabbed the rebound and hit Greer on the crease for his third goal of the night and the hat-trick. But that would be it for San Diego. Jackson would notch the equalizer with a twister shot around his defender that hit the far post finding the back of the net. The last three for the T’Birds would come from Stephen Keogh calling the game and scoring the final three goals of the contest. His first off of a long-range shot that he drilled in low far side after coming off the bench at 9:29; his second was a bounce shot around his defender after receiving a cross floor pass from Jamieson at 13:57; and the last goal on his knees wrapping the shot around his defender to put it past Scigliano using the defender as a screen so Scigliano didn’t see it coming with 36 seconds left. Final score: Thunderbirds 8—Seals 5.
NEXT UP:
The Halifax Thunderbirds (5-0) look to stay undefeated as they head out to Calgary to face the Roughnecks (2-3) on Saturday January 25, at the Saddledome, game time 9:30 p.m. EST. This will the only time that Halifax will head west to face a team in the West Division.
The San Diego Seals (1-5) head back to the East Coast to face the New York Riptide (1-4) on Saturday January 25, game time 7:30 p.m. EST. The Seals have not won a game since December 29, 2019 when they defeated the Vancouver Warriors in an OT thriller 11-10. The Riptide have tasted victory and want to taste the sweetness once more. Expect to see a great game with both teams playing hard; fast; and tough.
Matteo Nobile, Correspondent Halifax Thunderbirds
Lacrosse is Awesome©