For the first time this season, the Sea Spray sit alone in top spot.
A fourth-straight victory improved the Sea Spray to 8-4 with three games to play as they were xx-x winners over the Black Fish. And while the Sea Spray extended their streak, the other Week 12 contest saw the Grizzlies end a lengthy-slide thanks to a 13-11 win over the Shooting Eagles, knocking the defending champions out of top spot in the Arena Lacrosse League West Division for the first time this season.
Grizzlies 13 Shooting Eagles 11
The streak is over.
After enduring nine consecutive losses, the Grizzlies finally got back in the win column with a 13-11 win over the Shooting Eagles.
The teams were playing on Tuesday (February 6) at Langley Events Centre with the Grizzlies improving to 3-9 while the Shooting Eagles lost for a third straight time to see their record fall to 7-5 in Arena Lacrosse League West Division play.
The Grizzlies were ahead by two early in the fourth quarter before the Shooting Eagles scored four of the next five to pull ahead 11-10 with 6:37 to play and it looked like the team’s string of devastating defeats would continue as they had lost their previous five games by a combined six goals, including an overtime setback the previous game.
But Connor Whyte and Brian Smith struck 1:46 apart and Sekawnee Baker added an insurance marker in the final minute to preserve the victory.
Mitch McDole led the Grizzlies with a hat trick and six points while Baker – the game’s first star – and Kyle Brunsch both had a pair of goals and four assists. Smith, Whyte and Pearson Willis rounded out the scoring as they each had two goals and an assist.
Ryder Bremner took over in goal for the Grizzlies early in the second quarter and was sensational in relief, stopping 29 of 34 shots (.853 save percentage) and earning second star honours. He replaced Brayden Wandler, who made nine saves on 15 shots.
Declan Fitzpatrick was the third star after leading the Shooting Eagles with five goals and one assist. Garret Winter (2-5) led all scorers with seven points and Mark Yingling had five assists. Jake Young, Spencer Bromley and Coady Adamson each had a goal and two helpers with Tyson Johnson finished with a goal and an assist. Johnson also won 20 of 26 face-offs.
Brody Harris made 49 saves as the Eagles were outshot 62-49.
Sea Spray 15 Black Fish 10
Another dominant defensive stretch has the Sea Spray all alone in top spot.
In the previous week’s game, the Sea Spray scored 10 unanswered goals to pull away and on Thursday (February 8), they trailed 2-1 before rattling off eight consecutive goals to build what became an insurmountable advantage in a 15-10 victory over the Black Fish at Langley Events Centre. With their fourth straight victory, the Sea Spray lead the Arena Lacrosse League West Division with an 8-4 record. The Black Fish saw their two-game winning streak come to an end as they sit in third place at 6-6.
The Sea Spray led 9-2 at the half and were up 13-4 with a quarter to play before the Black Fish finally got their offence on track in the fourth with six goals, but the deficit was too much to overcome.
Four players scored three or more goals for the Sea Spray with first-star James Rahe (4-3) leading the way, while Adam Dickson (3-1), Vinny Ricci (3-1) and Gordie Phillips (3-0) registering hat tricks. Jordan Gabriele picked up third star honours after his one-goal, four-point game and Tyler Ewen had the other tally in the victory to go along with two helpers.
Lee Jackman made 28 saves on 35 shots while Marc Rippberger stopped seven of the 10 shots he faced.
At the other end, Brandon Humphrey had 42 saves as his team was outshot 57-45. Offensively, Brian Gillis – the second star – had a hat trick and five points with Josh Mills also adding three goals. Ethan M’Lot (1-2), Laszlo Henning (2-1) and Ryan Jensen (1-0) rounded out the scoring.
Up next: The teams return to action with the Shooting Eagles (7-5) facing the Black Fish (6-6) on February 20 while the following day sees the Sea Spray (8-4) battle the Grizzlies (3-9). Both games begin at 7:00pm at Langley Events Centre.
Photos of the Sea Spray/Black Fish game courtesy of Gary Ahuja Langley Events Centre (photos of Grizzlies/Shooting Eagles unavailable)
