Shawn Palmer, Toronto Rock Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Featured Image Photo Credit: Christian Bender
The No.6 Toronto Rock (2-1) hosted the No. 7 San Diego Seals (1-2) in the deciding game three of the semifinals on Saturday night May 9, 2026. Both teams had won on their home floor, and the Rock were hoping the trend continued so they could return to the NLL finals for the first time since 2015. On the other side, San Diego was looking to punch their ticket to the finals for the first time in team history. Just like in game two, Cam Dunkerley (33 saves) was in net for the Seals replacing an injured Chris Origlieri. Dunkerley proved in game two that he was able to shut down the high-powered Rock offense and was looking to duplicate that effort in Toronto. The only change in Toronto’s lineup was the return of Josh Jackson (1G, 1A) who was injured and unable to play game two. The first half was a game of runs with Toronto scoring the first four goals of the first half and San Diego answering back with five of their own to take a 5 – 4 lead into halftime. A strong third and early fourth quarter for the Rock where they outscored the Seals six to one, gave Toronto a large enough lead they could carry for the rest of the game allowing them to move onto the NLL finals. One area the Rock was able to do better than most thought before the series was at the faceoff dot. Trevor Baptiste won only 51% of the faceoffs against Nick Rowlett, whereas during the regular season, Baptiste had a game against the Rock where he won 100% of the faceoffs.
Toronto opened the scoring just over two minutes into the game. Brad Kri (1G, 2A) received a pass from Nick Rose (53 saves, 2 A), he went all the way down the floor and beat Dunkerley over the shoulder to make it 1 – 0 for the Rock. Halfway through the first quarter, the Rock would double their lead. While in transition, Sam English (2G, 3A) fired a high to low shot that went five-hole and it was 2 – 0. Just over a minute later, Billy Hostrawser (2A) passed to Dan Craig (1G, 1A) coming off the bench and he put a shot over the shoulder to make it 3 – 0 Rock. Less than a minute later they’d increase their lead when Hugh Kelleher (2G, 1A) picked up a loose ball at center, went in on Dunkerley, dove across the crease and beat him between the legs. Originally it was called no goal, but Toronto challenged the call, it was overturned and the Rock led 4 – 0 with less than five minutes left in the first quarter. It looked like the Rock were going to run away with the game, but San Diego had other ideas. With 4:04 left in the frame, the Seals would get on the board. Zach Currier (3G, 3A) picked up a rebound in front of the net off a Rose save and put it around Rose on the far side to cut the Rock lead to 4 – 1. The shots on goal at the end of the first quarter were San Diego 12 and Toronto 10.
The Seals would own the second and got it started less than three minutes in. Wes Berg (1G, 1A) fired a side arm shot around his defender and beat Rose low to the glove side cutting the Rock lead in half at 4 – 2. Both teams went back and forth for the next eight minutes while the fans watched a defensive battle. With 4:31 remaining in the frame, Toronto would get nabbed with a roughing call putting San Diego on their second man up on the night and they’d capitalize. Berg passed to Ben Mcintosh (1G) on the crease and he fired a bounce shot that went through the legs making it a one goal game at 4 – 3. They’d tie it up 28 seconds later while in transition, when the youngest player in the league, Ari Steenhuis (1G) went the full length of the floor, put a low-to-low shot between the legs for his first career playoff goal and it was 4-4 with less than four minutes remaining in the first half. Two minutes later the Seals took their first lead of the game. Currier went through two defenders and as he was falling, his bounce shot beat Rose to the far side to give San Diego a 5 – 4 lead at half time. The shots in the first half were San Diego 33 and Toronto 18.
Two minutes into the second half, the Rock tied the game up while in transition. English passed to Kelleher and his high to low shot went short side and it was five all. Once again scoring stalled, this time for seven minutes before the Seals responded on the power play. Currier cut in front of the net and beat Rose to the far side giving him a hat trick to make it 6 – 5 for the Seals. Less than a minute later CJ Kirst (2G, 2A) took a low-to-low shot from the outside that beat Dunkerley through the legs to tie the game at six. Toronto would tally the next three over the last two minutes in the third. Chris Boushy (2G) received a pass from Kirst, and he fired a side arm rocket of a shot that went top corner to make it 7 – 6 for Toronto, a lead they would not relinquish. A minute later, with one second left on the shot clock, Kirst was trying to get a shot on net, he fired a low to low shot from the restraining line that went five-hole and they were up by two, 8 – 6. With Rose pulled in favor of the extra attacker, and four seconds left in the third, Mark Matthews (1G, 2A) found Boushy in the middle, he caught the ball, turned, shot and put it far side and after three, the score was the Rock 9 –Seals 6. The shots on goal after the third quarter were San Diego 43 and Toronto 31.
Less than two minutes into the fourth, Toronto would continue their run. English picked up a ball following an over and back call, went in all alone and beat Dunkerley when he faked high and shot low to increase the Rock lead to 10 – 6. Four minutes later Matthews would take a long high to low bounce shot that pinged the top corner on the far side, and the Rock lead was now five at 11 – 6. The Seals would get that one back in just 10 seconds. Trevor Baptiste (1G) won the faceoff, went in all alone on Rose, his bounce shot hit the post, hit Rose in the back, and went in to make it 11 – 7 with just over half of a quarter left to play. The Rock would respond back in less than a minute. Kirst threw three fakes which brought Dunkerley to the top of the crease, he passed to Owen Hiltz (2G) at the side of the net, and he put it into the open net putting the lead back to five at 12 – 7. Thirty seconds later while on a delayed penalty, Hiltz would fire a low-to-low shot far bottom corner, and it was 13 – 7 for the Rock. But San Diego kept coming back, and while on the power play, Tre Leclaire (1G) fired from the top, beat Rose to the top corner to make it 13 – 8 for the Rock and just over six minutes left in what could be the end of their season. Rose and the Toronto defense kept the Seals at bay for the next few possessions while the Rock offense continued to use their full shot clock to wind the time down. With just over a minute left in the contest, Berg went in on a breakaway, but English wrapped him up and a penalty shot was called. Berg came in on Rose, faked low and shot high off the cross bar and out of play to keep the game at 13 – 8. With the Seals goalie pulled for the extra attacker, English would pass to Josh Jackson (1G, 1A), and he put the ball into the empty net to close out the scoring for the Rock sending 5,263 Rock fans home happy. Final Score: Rock 14—Seals.
The Rock are now on their way to the finals for the first time since 2015 with the hopes of winning their seventh title which, if it happens, would move them into the lead for the most championships in the NLL.
The Three Stars of the game were:
Nick Rose – Toronto Rock: 53 saves, 2 assists
Sam English – Toronto Rock: 2 goals, 3 assists, 15 loose balls
Zach Currier – San Diego Seals: 3 goals, 3 assists, 12 loose balls
GAME STATS:
San Diego Seals—SOG 61; Saves 33; Sv% .702; FO 15-27; PP 3-4; PIM 6; LB 62; TO 25
Toronto Rock—SOG 47; Saves 53; Sv% .869; FO 12-27; PP 1-2; PIM 12; LB 71; TO 23
NEXT UP:
The No. 6 Seed Toronto Rock (2-1) have to wait and see who they face in the NLL Finals. Will it be the No. 4 Seed Georgia Swarm (1-1)*** or the No. 8 Seed Halifax Thunderbirds (1-1)***.
If Georgia wins, Shawn Palmer will be there covering Game 2. If Halifax wins, he will be at Game 1 and if necessary, Game 3.
2026 NLL Finals (Best-of-Three)
- Thursday, May 14 – Sunday, May 17
- Thursday, May 21 – Monday, May 25 (if necessary)
Broadcast Information
Fans can catch every playoff game live on ESPN+, TSN+, and NLL+ (territory restrictions apply). Complete broadcast information, including the TSN and ESPN network schedules, will be announced on Tuesday.
Shawn Palmer, Toronto Rock Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©
***Records at the time of the article