Marcelo A. Sagüez, Correspondent Calgary Roughnecks
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Featured Image Photo Credit: Jenn Pierce
What a way to round out 2022 with a battle for first place in the Western division with the Calgary Roughnecks (2-0) hosting the San Diego Seals (2-0) at the Scotiabank Saddledome. This game would be bittersweet for Curtis Dickson (71) who had played his entire career (11 seasons) with the Roughnecks, until the 2022 off season when he signed a one-year contract with the Seals after becoming a free agent. He would have a stellar game against his former squad putting up four goals and four assists playing a pivotal part in the victory. The Roughnecks with the loss would fall back in the standings (2-1) in the West losing to the Seals 17-14 in dramatic fashion.
Calgary had come off a decisive win over the Vancouver Warriors (0-3) on December 16th 14-5 with their net minder Christian Del Bianco looking like he was in championship form defending the net with 49 saves.
The Roughnecks started the match up with a bang scoring on their first shot 13 seconds in. Unfortunately, the goal was challenged by the Seals because the goal scorer was in the crease prior to the ball crossing the goal line. Thirty-one seconds into the frame, the ball took a San Diego bounce, and they’d go on a five-goal run led by Dane Dobbie (6g, 3a) with his ‘hat-trick’. The Seals were relentless on defence with high pressure on the attacking Riggers. Applying two on the ball and keeping it on the outside. Jesse King (4g, 1a) broke the run at the 6:14 mark and temporarily stopped the bleeding, but Austin Staats erased that with one about three minutes later. Returning former Roughneck Curtis Dickson (4g, 4a) showed the fans he can still put it in the net with 11 seconds remaining in the quarter and the Seals took a 7-2 lead.
Jesse King got Calgary on the board 22 seconds into the second quarter on the feed from Tyler Pace (2g, 7a). But Dobbie would notch two more to his total of six goals on the night. Dobbie may not be the fastest or strongest player however he knows how to work the floor and his stick skills are at an elite level. His shots do not carry speed, but accuracy. The Roughnecks were not able to keep up with the Seals scoring barrage once again being outscored 6-3. Heading into half-time and a much-needed break. the Roughnecks needed some time to regroup and make necessary changes to the errors of the first half. Taking a deficit to the locker room of 13-5.
The third quarter showed promise for the home team mounting a comeback, out scoring the Seals 4-3. The scoreboard read 16-9 leading into the fourth quarter.
It was all Roughnecks in the fourth quarter out scoring San Diego 5-1. Calgary spread the ball around quite well in front of a home crowd that appreciated the no quit attitude until the final whistle. The lone goal for the Seals in the fourth came early at 1:57 with Dickson putting up the 17th of the night for San Diego.
Unfortunately for the Roughnecks the comeback fell short to a 17-14 loss, tying them for second place in the Western Division with the Panther City Lacrosse Club.
Calgary ran into 16 minutes of minor infraction penalties which the Seals capitalizing on two of the seven opportunities. On the power play, Calgary was 1-4.
Calgary Player Stats:
(35) Christian Del Bianco: 3 a
(26) Dan Taylor: 1 g, 2 a
(97) Haiden Dickson: 1 g, 3 a
(19) Jesse King: 4 g, 1 a
(21) Kyle Waters: 1 g, 2 a
(22) Shane Simpson: 2 g
(12) Tanner Cook: 2 g, 1 a
(68) Tyler Pace: 2 g, 7 a
(77) Zach Currier: 1 g, 13 loose balls
TEAM STATS:
Calgary Roughnecks: SOG 43; FO 18-34; Saves 31; Sv% .645%; PP 1-4
San Diego Seals: SOG 48; FO 16-34; Saves 29; Sv% .674%; PP 2-7
NEXT UP:
The Calgary Roughnecks (2-1) head to Denver to face the Colorado Mammoth (1-1) at the Loud House on Saturday January 7, 2023, game time 10:00 p.m. EST. This is the Game of the Week for fans in USA and they can see the action on ESPNU. Fans in Canada can see the game on TSN.ca or the TSN app.
The San Diego Seals (3-0) will host the Vancouver Warriors (0-3) on Saturday January 7, 2023, at Pechanga Arena, game time 10:00 p.m. EST. Fans in the USA can see the game on ESPN+. Fans in Canada can see the game on TSN.ca or the TSN app.
Marcelo A. Sagüez, Correspondent Calgary Roughnecks
Lacrosse is Awesome©