Justin Ivey, Co-Editor
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Saturday night had one NLL game, and it did not disappoint. The Halifax Thunderbirds (3-7) travelled cross continent to play the San Diego Seals (6-4). Cody Jamieson (2G, 2A) and the Thunderbirds came out strong in the first quarter and led after the first half. The Seals flipped the game in the third quarter led by Tre Leclaire (3G, 3A) and took a lead they never gave back. Both teams combined for 37 penalty minutes as the contest was chippy and physical. Neither team was great on the power play, Halifax finished 1-5 and San Diego 3-7, but the San Diego Seals made enough plays to come out with the close win. Final Score: Halifax Thunderbirds – 8, San Diego Seals – 9.
Jamieson and the Thunderbirds struck first, just over two and a half minutes in. After stepping above a screen, he launched an underhand bounce shot for his 14th goal of the season. Halifax also committed the first penalty of the night, a holding call after the under ten TV timeout. While man down, Randy Staats (2G, 3A) muscled himself some space and launched a shot around two defenders past Chris Origlieri (8GA, 41SV) to put the visitors up 2-0. Warren Hill (9GA, 43SV) continually came up with big saves early in the game to keep the Seals scoreless, including killing the first penalty. Jamieson caught a pass alone in the offensive zone after a broken transition play, dipped his shoulder and picked the top stick side corner for his second goal of the game. Halifax gave the Seals another power play opportunity with 3:30 left in the quarter and finally the home team offense broke through. Wes Berg (3G, 1A) jumped in the air and finished with a quick stick from the crease after a well-placed pass from Corey Small (4A). With 50 seconds left, Halifax went on their first power play of the night after a holding call on San Diego. The first possession came up empty, and the Seals went almost a full 30 seconds before getting a long shot. The final seconds wound down with an untouched loose ball behind the Seals net. At the end of the first quarter, Halifax led San Diego 3-1.
The Seals successfully held off the Thunderbirds for the remainder of the penalty and immediately went man up themselves. Despite holding possession for most of the two minutes, they could not beat the defense. Seconds after the teams were even, Wake:Riat Bowhunter (1G) deflected a high pass from Jamieson, and it found its way to the goal. Both teams were soon assessed penalties and while playing four on four, San Diego answered. Leclaire put in a laser from outside with ten minutes left in the half. After a tough loose ball behind the San Diego net, fans were treated to a quick wrestling match and the culprits were assessed matching fighting penalties. Berg started the four on four with a swim move dodge on his way to a dive across the crease for a goal that ignited the crowd. The Seals were now down just one with 7:06 left. After the next faceoff, Halifax was given a penalty shot after Trevor Baptiste broke up a fast break. Staats took the walk up and finished from up close low on Origlieri to restore the two-goal lead. Penalties continued to pile up. With 6:25 left, Jason Knox (1G) was assessed a major penalty, but during the four on three the Seals couldn’t score. They were left with nearly four minutes of man up and could not capitalize. Eli Gobrecht went to the box in the last minute of the half for a holding call, but Halifax could not score. At the half, Halifax led San Diego 5-3.
Halifax went five on three early in the second half, but the San Diego defense held strong until the penalty was almost over. With 12:22 remaining, Halifax sent a man to the box. Again, when that penalty was unsuccessful and the time was out, San Diego sent a man to the box. Finally at full strength, Staats threw a cross-turf pass to Knox and he quickly fired past a sliding Origlieri. The Thunderbirds finally scored after 14 minutes of scoreless lacrosse from both sides. Berg quickly put the cap on any momentum, firing a goal in on the run from up top just seconds later. With 6:47 left in the third quarter, Leclaire faked and released a low shot from outside that found the net, cutting the Seals deficit to one. The Seals quickly found themselves on another power play and Small dove across the crease for a corner goal, tying the game 6-6. The onslaught continued without an answer for Halifax until the end of the quarter. Dylan Watson (2G, 3A) scored on a powerplay opportunity to give the Seals their first lead since the first quarter. Leclaire followed it up just over two minutes later with his third goal of the night, and Connor Robinson (1G, 1A) scored on another powerplay opportunity with 1:08 left. At the end of the third quarter, San Diego led Halifax 8-6.
The Halifax Thunderbirds mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter, and they found their first chance to strike on another power play opportunity. 1:15 into the quarter, Clarke Petterson (1G) fired a quick shot as the ball spun and found the top corner. After a couple minutes of tough back and forth lacrosse, without penalties, Halifax cut the deficit to just one. Curtis Romanchych (1G) reeled back and fired in his first goal of the year, and just the second of his career, in transition. With 10:36 left in the game, Halifax and San Diego were tied 8-8. Despite all of the penalties so far, there were none for the remainder of the game as both teams flew up and down the floor. The game winning goal was scored with 8:37 to play. Watson scored in transition, falling into the crease after finishing the underhand pass from Graydon Bradley (1A). Neither team would be able to break through before the final buzzer. Final Score: Halifax Thunderbirds – 8, San Diego Seals – 9.
Up Next:
The San Diego Seals (6-4) travel to play the Colorado Mammoth on Friday, February 27 at 9:00 PM EST.
The Halifax Thunderbirds (3-7) travel to play the Calgary Roughnecks on Saturday, February 28 at 9:00 PM EST.