Justin Ivey, Co-Editor
Lacrosse is Awesome©
The San Diego Seals (4-3) hosted the Philadelphia Wings (1-6) on Friday, January 30 at Pechanga Arena for a night battle donning camouflage uniforms on Heroes Night. Just a week ago, the Wings hosted the Seals in Philadelphia in a tight contest that saw San Diego ride second half momentum to a 9-7 win. Coming into last night’s matchup, Bo Columbus was set to make his NLL debut with faceoff man Nick Rowlett sidelined for the Wings. On the other side of the faceoff dot was Trevor Baptiste (1A), a long-time Wings star who would control the middle of the field, winning all but six draws on the night. The game started much like the matchup last week, with Philadelphia running out to an early lead. Unfortunately for them though, San Diego roared back with a 10-0 run that spanned over 30 minutes, chasing Wings starting netminder Nick Damude (9GA, 33SV) early in the third quarter in route to a decisive win. In the losing effort, Philadelphia was led by Joe Resetarits (3G, 1A) and Michael Sowers (2G, 2A), while the Seals kept young star Brennan O’Neill (2A) without a goal. San Diego relied on a balanced offense, but Connor Robinson (3G, 3A) and Zach Currier (2G, 3A) stood out as offensive stars of the game. Christopher Origlieri (7GA, 34SV) looked like a superstar in net holding the potent Wings offense to just seven goals. Final Score: San Diego Seals – 13, Philadelphia Wings – 7.
Just 43 seconds into the game, Resetarits swept across the middle and the first Philadelphia shot of the game found the far top corner of the net. The 1-0 lead lasted just over four minutes before Pat Kavanagh (2G, 1A) tied the game with a left-handed bounce shot for his 6th goal of the season. The American box players continued the back and forth with Sowers scoring next, finishing with a bouncer of his own after a little shake-n-bake for a 2-1 Wings lead. Resetarits stretched it to a two-goal lead, when his bounce shot trickled into the net with 5:51 left to play. Scoring took a little break after that, but with 1:35 left, Currier drove to the net and dove across the crease, flicking the ball into the corner for a San Diego goal. Right off the next faceoff, Sowers launched a rocket from way outside for his second goal of the first quarter. At the end of the first, Philadelphia led San Digo 4-2.
Despite an early man up opportunity, the Wings could not find the net at the start of the second quarter to keep the momentum rolling. Actually, both teams struggled early in the quarter to find the net. On the Seals second power play opportunity of the frame, and with 6:16 left until the half, Dylan Watson (2G, 1A) scored diving after sneaking around the crease to get the Seals within one of Philadelphia. Just eight seconds later, Tre Leclaire (3G) tied the game after scooping the face-off ground ball up and running right to the net. The onslaught continued when Robinson made it three scores in 23 seconds for San Diego. Robinson’s overhand shot from outside found the stick side top corner of the Philadelphia net. The San Diego Seals now led 5-4. After the quick flurry, both teams settled again, but San Diego found another goal before the end of the half. Robinson made it two in a row, this time scoring on an interior pass from Currier while falling into the crease. At the half, San Diego led Philadelphia 6-4.
The Philadelphia slump continued in the third quarter as San Diego clamped down on defense and Origlieri turned away all sorts of shots. The Seals continued to score at a solid pace to stretch their lead even further. Watson opened the scoring, finding the net 1:25 into the third quarter on a quick underhand release. Ben McIntosh (1G, 4A) joined the scoring party just under a minute later, stepping his way into a hard overhand shot around a great seal on the crease from teammates. With 10:44 remaining, Leclaire scored his second unassisted goal. After an attempted hidden ball trick, he cut all the way to the crease, diving for a goal despite the defense knowing he had the ball. This goal was the catalyst for replacing Damude with Deacon Knott (4GA, 16SV). Scoring took a break with San Diego up 9-4 until Kavanagh scored with 4:56 left in the third. On the Seals second shot clock of the possession, he muscled himself some space and scored from outside while getting tangled with his defender Mitchell Armstrong. A mini shoving match ensued, and both, as well as Leclaire, were assessed a roughing minor. At the end of the third quarter, San Diego led Philadelphia 10-4.
The San Diego flurry continued to start the fourth quarter, quickly ending any hope of a Wings comeback. Robinson and Leclaire both scored early power play goals to extend the lead to eight within a minute and a half. Finally, Eric Fannell (1G, 2A) scored a goal for the Wings just over a minute after the Leclaire goal. The power play goal was assisted by Resetarits, the 600th point of his NLL career, and his third of the game. The scoreless Wings drought lasted more than two quarters, a total time of 34:07. Resetarits would score his third goal of the game with 10:46 left, but Currier would bring it back to a seven goal Seals lead with five minutes on the clock. Blaze Riorden (1G, 1A) found the net for the last goal of the game. Final Score: San Diego Seals – 13, Philadelphia Wings – 7
Up Next:
The Philadelphia Wings (1-6) travel to play the Buffalo Bandits on Saturday, February 7 at 7:00 PM EST.
The San Diego Seals (4-3) host the Saskatchewan Rush on Saturday, February 7 at 10:00 PM EST.