Di Miller, NLL Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Featured Image Photo Credit: Alexis Goeller
On January 4, 2025, Pechanga Arena would welcome the Ottawa Black Bears (2-2) formerly the New York Riptide for their first appearance to the arena where they’d go head-to-head against the San Diego Seals (3-2). The contest was low scoring but not low on action with both netminders, Zach Higgins (46 saves, .885% Sv%) for Ottawa and Christopher Origlieri (31 saves, .861% Sv%) for the Seals playing absolutely stellar between the pipes. The Seals have not started out the year strong and it didn’t help when they lost Trevor Baptiste to an injury during their contest against the Mammoth in December. The contest would go back and forth for a bit, but the Black Bears would lose their scoring mojo right after their three-goal run with 7:02 left in the second and couldn’t find twine for the remaining 37 minutes and 2 seconds. If it had not been for Higgins amazing performance in between the pipes, the score could have gotten out of control. Final Score: Seals 6—Black Bears 5.
Ottawa would win the opening draw to start the contest and after a change of possession, Ben McIntosh (1g) would get the rebound off the boards, turned and went airborne putting it up top far right to get the Seals on the board 1:24 in and it was 1-0. San Diego would go man down 4:23 in on a roughing call and the Black Bears who are fourth in league in power play opportunities, would capitalize with seconds on the shot clock. Ottawa pushed the ball back over the timeline to avoid the over and back, Nathan Grennon was there to scoop the ball and from the restraining line fired a low sidearm shot surprising Origlieri to tie it up with a power play tally 5:16 in and it was 1-1. Shortly thereafter, the Black Bears would get nabbed with a body checking penalty and this time the Seals would be the benefactors 22 seconds into the power play. Rob Hellyer (1g, 2a) fired at the cage, the ball ricocheted off the shoulder of Higgins and went in with 5:39 left in the frame and they went up 2-1. This would be the only time either team would capitalize on their extra man opportunities for the remainder of the game. With 4:10 on the ticker, Jake Stevens fed the cross-crease pass to Taggart Clark (1g) who was out in front, and he dunked it over the shoulder to tie it up again. Neither team found twine for the remaining minutes although the Seals tried pulling Origlieri with 5.5 seconds, but Higgins would make a top notch save to close it out. Score at the end of one: Seals 2—Black Bears 2.
The Seals would open the second with two goals within the first three minutes. Graydon Bradley (1g) on the run, stopped quick and fired a laser far side low for his first goal of the season 3:28 in. The next goal came 28 seconds later. Origlieri sent the outlet pass down the floor to a running Matthew Wright (1g), and he found an opening glove side for his first NLL career goal, and it was 4-2. On the ensuing face-off, Jay Thorimbert (1g) who was stellar at the 50/50 dot, won the draw, sprinted down the floor and fired a high to low bounce shot five-hole at the 3:01 mark to make it 4-3. They’d put up another tally less than a minute later. Jeff Teat (1g) would get his lone goal on the night. With the ball in his stick, he stopped, then took a step, got out in front and pinged the top left corner to tie it again 4-4. Ottawa would notch their final tally on the night with 7:02 left in the half. Jacob Dunbar (1g) who had been traded from the Seals fired a high to low shot which bounced in front of Origlieri and went in far side and it was 5-4. With both Higgins and Origlieri standing on their heads for the last seven, the score sheet would not move although each side tried. Stats at the end of two: Ottawa—SOG 18; FO 10-12; PP 1-2; Saves 24; Sv% .857; LB 39; TO 21; Assists 6. San Diego—SOG 28; FO 2-12; PP 1-1; Saves 13; Sv% .722; LB 32; TO 8; Assists 5. Score at the end of two: Black Bears 5—Seals 4.
After the break, the Seals would come out just 40 seconds in with Wes Berg (2g, 1a) putting up his first of two which would be the only goals of the second half. On the run, Berg got the feed, came down main street, leaped up, faked left and went right over the shoulder of Higgins to tie it up 5-5. Less than a minute later, Berg was crossing the field, turned, fired across his body and put it top corner 1:38 in for what turned out to be the game winning goal 6-5 Seals. The remaining 13:22 was a track meet with one penalty against San Diego and the teams combining for 22 SOG but nothing hitting twine. Score at the end of three: Seals 6—Black Bears 5.
The last time the scoring was this low at Pechanga was two years ago when the Swarm defeated the Seals in OT 6-5. And as it turned out, this game would be the second time this had happened. With only two penalties in the fourth, Ottawa only getting 6 SOG and the Seals getting 10, the netminders were the talk of the town. Although the fans thought that with 2:23 remaining and 3 seconds on the shot clock they would have a two-goal lead. Kyle Jackson had possession at the doorstep, jumped and dunked the ball over Higgins’ shoulder. Ottawa Bench Boss Dan Ladoucer had the wherewithal to toss the challenge flag because he knew that it would not be challenged as it was outside the two-minute mark in the fourth and it paid off. After review, Todd Lebranche came out with the call and said, “The shooter landed inside the crease prior not the ball crossing the line, therefore it is a ‘no goal’” The fans were upset to say the least but it gave the Black Bears one more chance. With 20.1 seconds on the ticker, Ottawa would use their final time out to set up the play. Higgins stayed on the bench in favor of the extra attacker and the Black Bears would fire on Origlieri multiple times. With less than 4 seconds on the clock, Nathan Grenon was on the crease, fired and hit the pipe ending the night. Final Score: Seals 6—Black Bears 5.
Stars of the Game:
Zach Higgins—Ottawa Black Bears: 36 Saves, .855 Sv%
Christopher Origlieri—San Diego Seals: 52 Saves, .861 Sv%
Wes Berg—San Diego Seals: 2g, 1a
STATS:
Ottawa Black Bears: SOG 36; Saves 46; Sv% .885%; FO 14-16; PP 1-4; PIM 10
San Diego Seals: SOG 52; Saves 31; Sv% .861%; FO 2-16; PP 1-4; PIM 10
NEXT UP:
The Ottawa Black Bears (2-2) will head to Gas South Arena on Friday January 10, 2025, to face the Georgia Swarm (4-1), game time 7:30 p.m. EST. Fans in the USA can catch the game on ESPN+ and fans in Canada can see the game on TSN+.
The San Diego Seals (3-2) will head north of the border on Friday January 10, 2025, to face the Vancouver Warriors (2-1) at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC, game time 10:00 p.m. EST. Fans in the USA can catch the game on ESPN+ and fans in Canada can see the game on TSN+.
Di Miller, NLL Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©