Seals With Big Comeback

After a big first quarter, San Diego shuts down Calgary, 13-10. The 1-3 Calgary Roughnecks, after not being in action for 43 days, had the task of going into Pechanga Arena to face the 5-1 San Diego Seals. Seals with the big comeback.

We played with a lot of energy and purpose. In the first half, the shots were dropping. In the second half, they just weren’t going in. Can’t fault the effort. For a team that had not played in six weeks, that was a gritty performance.

Roughnecks GM Mike Board

How’d it Go?

Things started off as if it was San Diego was the team that was idle for five weeks. The Roughnecks jumped to an early 2-0 lead with Zach Herreweyers (1g, 3a) hitting for an unassisted power-play goal with just 1:33 gone. 2:05 later, it was Calgary rookie, Kyle Waters (2g) finding the net for his first NLL goal with the assists going to Herreweyers and Marshal King.

It took thirty-eight seconds for Player of the Game, Austin Staats (3g, 6a) to put the Seals on the board off set up from Jeremy Noble and Wes Berg. The goal came on the power play and with just 4:01 played, we had three scores on the board. The goal parade continued at 4:24 with Haiden Dickson (1g, 1a) burying a pretty feed from Tanner Cook to push it to 3-1. Curtis Dickson (2g, 1a) took his turn at 4:50 with helpers going to Herreweyers and Haiden Dickson.

Things would simmer down for a few minutes until Curtis Dickson lit the lamp for the second time when he benefitted from a pretty passing play from Cook and Jesse King, making it 4-1 with just under seven minutes to play in the quarter. San Diego finished yawning and struck back on a Tor Reinholdt (1g, 1a) marker that was set up by Seals Captain, Brodie Merril (2a) at the 13:50 mark. Reece Callies (1g) added an unassisted tally with :40 remaining to close the entertaining, if you are a Calgary fan, first quarter at 6-2.

What a night in San Diego as the Seals go on a 5 goal run late in the game to defeat the Roughnecks 13-10

👇 HIGHLIGHTS 👇 pic.twitter.com/wu0nDm5ZXZ

— NLL (@NLL) January 30, 2022

Things Get Wild

The offenses started to find gaps and were quick to take advantage. San Diego launched a four goal run to even it at 6-6. Zack Greer (2g, 1a) from Dane Dobbie and Noble at 1:19, with Tre LeClaire (2g,1a) getting his two goals at 1:53 and 5:22. Staats joined in at the 6:05 mark set up by Wes Berg and rookie, Mac O’Keefe (1a).

It was the Roughnecks turn to rally with Jesse King (2g, 1a) hitting on the advantage. Waters added his second, converting a Tanner Cook & Marshal King passing play. At 11:51, it would be Marshal King (1g, 2a) pushing it to what seemed to be, a commanding 9-6 Calgary advantage. San Diego never got the memo and starting barking with Merrill and Staats doing the work that Greer buried followed by Noble (1g, 5a) at 13:52 to end the half with a 9-8 Calgary lead.

First Half Leaders:

San Diego

• Jeremy Noble 1 goal, 4 assists
• Austin Staats 2 goals, 3 assists
• Wes Berg 3 assists.

Calgary

• Zach Herreweyers 2 goals with an assist
• Tanner Cook 3 assists.
• Concerning Staats, Seals Head Honcho, Patrick Merrill had this to say

Austin is such a clutch big game player, played with a lot of heart tonight and was able to step up and lead us offensively. The rest of the offense was able to feed off his energy and I’m proud of his effort tonight.

What a Difference a Half Makes

This marked the third game of the weekend that a second-half comeback took place. Following the leads of Philadelphia and Buffalo, another huge comeback took center stage. The third quarter gave no hint on what was about to transpire and yielded just one goal each. Jesse King stretched it to a 10-8 Calgary lead with 1:31 played and things stayed that way for over eight minutes. Noble and Staats, having the hot hands, found Wes Berg (2g, 3a) on the man up and we headed to the final stanza with Calgary still in control, 10-9.

The Roof Caves in on Calgary

The final quarter showed why San Diego is an upper-echelon team. Staats, Staats setting up Graydon Bradley (1g), Berg and Dane Dobbie (1g, 2a) supplied the offense with San Diego ending the affair with a five-goal rally that turned a 10-8 deficit into a 13-10 victory. Anytime a team can hold Dane Dobbie to one goal, you have to think that team has a win. Not with this Seals team. San Diego has a bye week while Calgary travels to the Loud House to face the Colorado Mammoth. Seals with a big comeback.

“Calgary put a lot of pressure on us early,” said General Manager and Head Coach Patrick Merrill. “They put us on our heels in the first quarter. Our guys showed a lot of reserve and character. Our defense got back to playing the way that makes us successful, our offense started burying a few. We had a great second half and pulled off a huge character win.”

Details, Details

Christopher Origlieri allowed 3 goals while making 21 saves in 16:23 of action. Scigliano played 43:37 allowing 7 goals and stopping 21 shots. For Calgary, Christian Del Bianco went the whole way making 28 saves.

Shot on goal favored San Diego, 41-40. Face off include Brandon Clelland who went 15 of 25 with the Seals having a 16 of 27 edge. San Diego had a 63-57 advantage with Brodie Merrill scooping 8 loose balls. For Calgary, Zach Currier snagged 14. In the powerplay, Calgary was 2 for 8 with the Seals posting 2 for 9.