Justin Ivey, Co-Editor
Lacrosse is Awesome©
The two-time defending Buffalo Bandits hosted the San Diego Seals Friday night for the first game of the 2025 NLL Playoffs. Buffalo entered the playoffs as the #1 overall seed, ending the regular season with a 13-5 record while San Diego secured the #8 seed. The Bandits are looking to become the first team since the Rochester Knighthawks (the franchise now in Halifax) to threepeat, a feat they accomplished between the 2012 and 2014 seasons. Both teams are loaded with offensive firepower, but it was the defense, and the goalie play, that decided the lowest scoring game in NLL Playoff history. Despite being outscored 2-0 in the entire second half of the game, the Bandits pulled through with a one-goal victory. Final Score: San Diego-4, Buffalo-5.
It was apparent in the first quarter that this game was not going to be a “normal” NLL game. Zero penalties were called on either team despite the physical playoff atmosphere, and only one goal was scored. Ian MacKay (2G), to the cheers of the full home crowd, scored the game opening goal 5:24 into the game. At the end of the first quarter, Buffalo led San Diego 1-0.
The second quarter also saw no penalties called on either team, but the scoring did pick up. After being shut out for the first 15 minutes, the Seals scored two in a row to start the second quarter. Zach Currier (2G) and Wes Berg (1G) scored 28 seconds apart in the third minute and with 12:11 left before the half, they now held a one-goal lead. Buffalo tightened the defense for the remainder of the quarter and mounted their comeback before the half. Dhane Smith (1G, 2A) scored with 8:57 left and MacKay gave Buffalo back the lead with 3:52 remaining. Matt Vinc (4GA, 48SV) assisted Nick Weiss (1G) on a transition goal with just over a minute left before Kyle Buchanan (1G, 1A) scored a diving goal with just one second on the clock. At the half, Buffalo led San Diego 5-2.
The Buffalo Bandits would go on to win this game with only the five goals they scored in the first half. Despite Christopher Origlieri (5GA, 39SV) stopping every shot that got through the tight Seals’ defense, the offense was matched with an equally aggressive and tight defense on the Buffalo side. Three penalties were assessed on each team in the third quarter, but neither man-up offense could score. The lone third quarter goal was scored by Tre Leclaire (1G, 2A) with 4:59 remaining and the Seals were now down 5-3 at the end of the third quarter.
Three penalties were called in the fourth quarter, two on Buffalo and one on the Seals. Fighting hard for the whole quarter, San Diego could not break through, but they also stood tall on defense and did not allow the deficit they faced to grow. Currier finally found an opening and got San Diego to within one of Buffalo, but the goal was scored with just one second remaining and there was not enough time to tie the game after the ensuing faceoff. Final Score: San Diego-4, Buffalo-5
Up Next:
The Buffalo Bandits await the winner of Saturday’s quarterfinal game between the Vancouver Warriors and the Rochester Knighthawks.