The Grizzlies climb to 4-1 with heart stopping come from behind, 15-14 overtime win that dropped the Shooting Eagles to 1-4.
Kevin M. Neibauer
LaxPhilly- A Division of The Edge of Philly Sports Network
Sub plots galore in this Thriller.
36 year old, Steve McKinlay saw game action for the first time since 2018.
McKinlay required Achilles’ surgery followed by leagues being shut down.
McKinlay celebrated by scoring three times and setting up the overtime game winner.
“I want to play this game as long as I can; I love the game and the amount of joy it brings to me,” he said about what drew him back. “Any time I can get to come on the lacrosse floor is a good day for me. It is the medicine game for me and the opportunity to play in this league just makes me happy.”
Let’s Get Started
The Grizzlies and Shooting Eagles started off exchanging goals started by Mitch McDole (2g, 1a) planting an Erik Maas and Sekawnee Baker set-up to put the Grizzlies in front after just thirty two seconds.
Shrugging it off, Coady Adamson (2g, 2a) evened the score at 1-1 with exactly three minutes played.
Off the face-off, McKinlay (3g,1a) scored for the Grizzlies. Followed with Ryan Martel (5g, 3a) kicking off his huge game just twenty nine seconds later.
Grizzlies netminder, Brandon Humphrey (2a) hit McKinlay but, again, the Eagles answered courtesy of Garrett Winter (1g, 1a) converting on a pretty pass around from Jake Foster (3a) and Declan Fitzpatrick.
Martel followed by Cole Paciejewski (1g, 1a) with just :51 remaining gave the Eagles a 5-3 advantage after one quarter.
Things Heating Up
It took nearly eleven.minutes for Paciejewski to connect on another Martel marker that stretched the run to four and a 6-3 lead.
Humphrey picked up his second assist when he hit Aaron Skye (1g) with a beautiful break-out pass to end the run and get it to a two marker difference.
Eagles reloaded and went on a second big goal run with Dylan Laprade (3g, 1a) scoring at 4:56 and a second just :31 later.
Martel lit the lamp again and Laprade collected his hat-trick the run hit five courtesy of Martel setting up Declan Fitzpatrick (1g, 1a) that made it an 11-4 game.
With the clock winding down, James Baker (2g, 1a) put an end to the run to end the half with the Shooting Eagles in command with an 11-5 lead.
A Tale of Two Halves
The Grizzlies made half- time adjustments and suddenly, became a different team.
Scratching and clawing to make a game of it, McDole, James Baker and Nash Moog (1g) hit net but, Martel countered with a single marker as did Mark Yingling, (1g) to take us to the white knuckle final quarter with the Eagles in front, 13-8.
Get Your Beverage and Snack and Sit Back
Martel connected with Adamson but, the Grizzlies said, “nighty night” and went on a rampage.
Brian Smith (2g), Erick Maas (2g), McKinlay getting his hatty, Andrew Gresham (1g, 2a), and a second from Baker put it at 14-13 for the Eagles.
Now, it get even more interesting. The Shooting Eagles were whistled for an Illegal Substitution with 1:31 showing.
As it was less than two minutes remaining, a penalty shot was mandated.
Sekawnee Baker (1g, 3a) made no mistake and the improbable happened. A six goal quarter and a 9-3 second half by the Grizzlies got it leveled at 14-14 and overtime beckoned.
To The Extra Time
It took only 1:54 for McKinlay to hustle and grab a loose ball.
McKinlay had a chance but opted to send a pass to Maas who lit the lamp and the comeback was complete, 15-14.
Notes
Brody Harris faced 56 shots from the Grizzlies and denied 41 of them.
The Grizzlies employed a pair of netminders with Brandon.Humphrey allowing 10 goals off 36 shots and throwing in the two assists.
Kyle Mooney turned in 34:37 of time facing 30 shots allowing just four markers.
“Nothing on Humphrey, he played well, guys just weren’t getting back so transition was happening on him,” explained Grizzlies coach Ryan Williams, who said the move was more about getting a message to the team. “Once we got settled them down, we talked about the highs and lows, and staying even keel and pick away at one shift at a time, and the guys chipped away at it.”
Kevin has followed and promoted the game of lacrosse since May 19, 1974.
The same day the Philadelphia Flyers won the Cup, the Philadelphia Wings were introduced to Neibauer and Philadelphia.
Kevin has covered many sports, including baseball, football, basketball, and.. lacrosse. A former licensed football referee and baseball umpire, Kevin brings a unique insight to his game coverage.
A published writer in JustHockey Magazine, Kevin covered the American Hockey League as well as a monthly story on a pugilist where Kevin used the pen name, The Rink Rat. Neibauer turned his attentions to lacrosse for a few years and does his part, whether podcasting or writing to grow the game. Kevin branched out to his roots and currently provides insight for all Philadelphia teams for Edge of Philly as well as his full-time duties with LaxPhilly.
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