Shawn Palmer, NLL Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Featured Image Photo Credit: Mike Hetzel
San Diego travelled to Buffalo on Saturday night to face the 2023 NLL Champions on their banner raising home opener. In the three previous meetings these two faced each other, Buffalo has not lost to San Diego. Buffalo was coming into the contest without a win as they dropped their first game to Albany last week while San Diego won their first game against Calgary. San Diego and Buffalo traded goals throughout the first half, but Buffalo went on a five-goal run in the third quarter to take command of the game. Buffalo stays undefeated against San Diego in their head-to-head matches with the 12 – 9 win.
Less than two minutes into the first quarter Austin Staats (2G, 2A) took a pass in front of the crease from Curtis Dickson (2G, 4A) and beat Matt Vinc (39 saves) over the shoulder to give San Diego the early 1 – 0 lead. A minute later Dhane Smith (7A) would pass to Josh Byrne (4G, 3A) who was open in front of the Seals net and his shot went over the shoulder of Chris Origlieri (34 saves) and into the top corner to tie the game at one. The Bandits would grab their first lead of the game in transition off a pass from Nick Weiss (3A) to Brandon Robinson (1G) and his bounce shot went five-hole. The Seals would tie the game up after a nice behind the back pass from Wes Berg (3G, 1A) to Dickson and he would reach across the crease to beat Vinc to the far side and it was two each just past the halfway mark of the first. Buffalo would regain the lead when Byrne came across the top and his sidearm shot went stick side and it was 3 – 2 for Buffalo. With 1:02 left in the frame and on a power play, Staats would pass to Dickson on the crease and his sidearm shot went through the legs tying the game at three at the end of the first. The shots at the end of the first quarter were San Diego 15—Buffalo 7.
Buffalo would start the second quarter on a power play and moved the ball around well. Tahoka Nanticoke (1G, 1A) was wide open in the middle, got the pass from Smith and his bounce shot went to the glove side giving Buffalo a 4 – 3 lead. The Seals would respond while on their own power play as Berg came around a pick, walked in on Vinc and his low shot beat him to the bottom corner, and they were tied again this time at four. San Diego would take back the lead when Dickson passed over to Jake Govett (1G, 2A) and his high to low went between the legs and it was 5 – 4 Seals with just over nine minutes left in the first half. The Seals would go man down and while shorthanded Govett would pass to Berg at the top and his behind the back shot surprised Vinc beating him over the shoulder to give the Seals their first two goal lead at 6 – 4. With the shot clock running down, Smith would pass to Chris Cloutier (1G, 1A) and his high to low shot beat Origlieri to the bottom corner to make it 6 – 5 for the Seals to end the second. The shots at the end of the first half were San Diego 25—Buffalo 17.
San Diego would start the second half when Berg and Dickson played a good two-man game. Dickson had a behind the back pass to Berg, he dove across the crease and went far side and it was 7 – 5 Seals. Buffalo would respond and go on a five-goal run. A few minutes later, Byrne’s side arm shot beat Origlieri to the stick side for his hat trick goal and Buffalo was again within one 7 – 6. The Bandits would go on the power play right after the ensuing face-off. Smith faked a shot, passed to Kyle Buchanan (2G) behind the net, he’d dive forward and went near side to tie it at seven. Off the ensuing faceoff the loose ball went to the San Diego corner and Ian Mackay (1G, 1A) would pick it up, came in front and went top corner to give Buffalo an 8 – 7 lead. The next goal for the Bandits came in transition when Matt Spanger (1G) came across center and his high to low shot went five-hole and it was 9 – 7 Buffalo lead. Buffalo would notch another power play marker to close out the run. Byrne received a cross floor pass from Smith and his quick stick went five-hole to make it 10 – 7 with three minutes left in the third. The Seals would go on their own power play. Staats made a behind the back pass to Dane Dobbie (1G, 3A) and his low shot beat Vinc to the far side to make it 10 – 8 to stop the Bandits five goal run and ending the third quarter. The shots at the end of three were San Diego 36—Buffalo 31.
The scoring in the final frame halted to a snail’s pace with the first goal coming almost nine minutes into the quarter and Buffalo would add to their tally. While on the power play Byrne faked e a shot from the top, fed to Buchanan for a quick stick on the crease and he’d go near side and it was it 11 – 8. With less than five minutes left in the game, Staats would take a low-to-low shot that Vinc stopped most of, but it slowly rolled over the goal line cutting the Bandits lead to two at 11 – 9. With a little over two left in the contest, Buffalo would respond to close it out. Chase Fraser (1G) made a swim move around his defender and his high to low shot beat Origlieri through the legs. That would be it for either side. The final shots were San Diego 48—Buffalo 46. Final Score: Bandits 12—Seals 9.
The Three Stars of the game were:
Josh Byrne – Buffalo Bandits: (4G, 3A)
Dhane Smith – Buffalo Bandits: (7A)
Curtis Dickson – San Diego Seals: (4G, 2A)
FINAL STATS:
San Diego Seals—SOG 48; FO 22-25; PP 3-5; Saves 34; Sv% .739%
Buffalo Bandits—SOG 46; FO 3-25; PP 4-6; Saves 39; Sv% .813%
NEXT UP:
The Buffalo Bandits (1-1) have a bye week and will be back at home at KeyBank Center to host the Georgia Swarm (1-1) on Friday December 29, 2023. Game time 7:30 p.m. EST. Fans in the USA can see the game on ESPN+. Fans in Canada get to catch the game on TSN+.
The San Diego Seals (1-1) also have a bye-week , will play at home in Pechanga Arena on Friday December 29, 2023 and will host the Rochester Knighthawks (2-0). Game time 10:00 p.m. EST. Fans in the USA can see the game on ESPN+. Fans in Canada get to catch the game on TSN+.
Shawn Palmer, NLL Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©