Justin Ivey, Co-Editor
Lacrosse is Awesome©
The Vancouver Warriors (12-5) hosted the Halifax Thunderbirds (7-10) Saturday night as the NLL regular season winds down. Vancouver has already clinched a spot in the playoffs, but the #1 seed is still up for grabs. Halifax, on the other hand, finds itself on the edge, needing a win to move closer to securing a playoff spot. Rogers Arena was treated to a defensive battle as neither team reached double-digit goals. In fact, the entire third quarter passed without any scoring. Clarke Petterson (2G, 2A) guided the Thunderbirds to a first-half lead, but Jesse King (3G, 3A) led the Warriors in a second-half comeback. Final Score: Halifax Thunderbirds – 7, Vancouver Warriors – 8.
The game launched with fireworks as Petterson scored just 23 seconds into play. After some passing around the zone, he launched a shot on the run from the top that beat Christian Del Bianco (7GA, 41SV) stick side. Vancouver answered shortly after, as 2:50 in, Keegan Bal (2G, 2A) stepped around a pick and hit the bottom far-side corner through traffic. Petterson restored the Halifax lead just over a minute later, scoring with an underhand shot on the Thunderbirds’ first power play of the evening. The defenses locked in and scoring slowed until just under five minutes remained. Jason Knox (2G, 2A) danced his way to the net and finished from in close, extending the Halifax lead. At the end of the first quarter, Halifax led Vancouver 3-1.
The second quarter opened with strong defensive play. Warren Hill (8GA, 51SV) and Del Bianco turned away quality chances as both teams searched for momentum. Penalties helped open things up for the first two goals. With 9:34 left in the half, Cody Jamieson (1G, 3A) picked the top glove-side corner while Halifax was man-up. Nearly three minutes later, Curtis Dickson (2G) answered with an underhand shot that rose past Hill while Vancouver had the advantage. On the next Vancouver possession, Owen Grant (1G) scored in transition to bring the Warriors within one.
After some tense back-and-forth play and another Vancouver penalty, Knox buried his second of the night on a power play, but Dickson answered quickly. Streaking from the bench in transition, he caught a perfect pass from Jeff Cornwall (1A) and scored at full speed while jumping through the crease. The goal marked Dickson’s 40th of the season, making him just the second player in NLL history with 10 seasons of 40+ goals. There was little time to celebrate, as Jake Withers (1A) won the ensuing faceoff and passed to a streaking Mike Robinson (1G, 3A), who scored uncontested. At the half, Halifax led Vancouver 6-4.
Both teams battled to a stalemate in the third quarter. Vancouver stayed out of the penalty box but could not convert on two power-play opportunities. Hill and Del Bianco continued to turn away shots, while both defenses forced turnovers and slowed transition play. At the end of the third quarter, Halifax led Vancouver 6-4.
A total of 17 minutes and 23 seconds ticked off the clock between goals before Vancouver broke through. King scored his first of the game 2:15 into the fourth quarter, stepping around a screen and firing to the top stick-side corner through traffic. Halifax responded to keep Vancouver at arm’s length, as Casey Wilson (1G) scored his first NLL goal with 9:02 remaining on a shot from outside that slipped past Del Bianco to restore the two-goal lead.
Vancouver showed why they are one of the top teams in the NLL this season in the closing minutes. As the defense shut down Halifax’s opportunities, the offense surged. Bal brought the Warriors within one with 7:43 remaining, scoring while jumping through the crease. Just over a minute later, King hesitated behind a screen, rose, and fired to tie the game with his second of the quarter. With momentum fully on their side, King struck again with just under four minutes to play, scoring from outside as the shot clock wound down for the game winner. Neither team was able to break through defensively for the remainder of the game. Final Score: Halifax Thunderbirds – 7, Vancouver Warriors – 8.
Up Next:
The Halifax Thunderbirds (7-10) host the Ottawa Black Bears on Saturday, April 18 at 6:00 PM EDT.
The Vancouver Warriors (12-5) host the Philadelphia Wings on Saturday, April 18 at 10:00 PM EDT.