O/T Thriller

The San Diego Seals came to Vancouver on a winless streak starting the season off with one thing on their mind – getting their first win of the NLL season.

Their Christmas wish came true as Brodie Merrill gave the Seals the game winning goal 1:49 into O/T. 

The win was a come from behind victory over the Warriors Sunday afternoon at Rogers Arena in front of 6125 onlookers leaving the Warriors pondering what’s next.

The 11-10 victory was the first of the season after suffering three tough losses and sit 1.5 games behind managing 38 GF and 52 GA and a .250 WPCT.

Vancouver got on the board 20 seconds in with Delta’s Logan Schuss bringing the matinee crowd to their feet hammering a blistering low shot on Frank Scigliano.  

Keegan Bal put marker #2 on the board a short two and a half minutes later giving the Warriors a two goal lead. 

As the first quarter was wrapping up the Seals came back with a pair that saw Johnny Pearson and Cam Holding even the game at two. 

Vancouve regained the lead the second quarter 50 seconds in that saw Derek Lloyd followed by goal number four 18 seconds later with Riley Loewen doubling the lead. 

The Seals were still in search of their first win of the season and managed to storm back with three straight goals, with the first one off the stick of Johnny Pearson who scored his second of the afternoon. 

The next pair were from Connor Kearman and Connor Fields all in a span of 1:19 seconds for a 5-4 lead. 

Vancouver rebounded 34 seconds later that saw Jordan McBride even the game at five, but when you think it’s working in your favour, the tide turns.

The Seals struck twice more taking a 7-5 lead to the half as Kearman and Fields each getting their second of the night. 

The third saw Vancouver score three taking an 8-7 lead with Mitch Jones collecting a pair and Jordan McBride getting his second of the night, but not to be outdone the Seals Jeremy Noble evened the game at eight.

Again the game was even and you could sense the possibility of O/T  and true to form the teams split the scoring in the fourth.

The Warriors Jones and McBride each collected their second of the game, but the Seals got scoring from Buchanan and Fields forcing O/T. 

Overtime started quickly with the Seals getting the ball, calling an  immediate T/O setting up the offense they wanted. 

It was an errant shot that bounced off the Seals bench only to be picked up by Merrill who was in alone going one on one that saw him beat Warriors “tender” Eric Penny low stick side at 1:49 giving the Seals the 11-10 victory and their first win of the season snapping a three game losing streak. 

Shots in the game were 58-57 for the Warriors that saw Seals “tender” Frank Scigliano finish with 48 saves for the victory. 

Eric Penny came out on the losing end of the scoreboard making 46 saves that has Vancouver drop to one win and two losses on the season. 

Vancouver now hits the road for two game’s, January 4th against Colorado followed by one January 10th in the “City of Brotherly Love” Philadelphia. 

The Warriors return home and face Colorado January 17th at Rogers Arena with the opening face-off set for 7:00pm. 

For a game summary feel free to visit  https://laxreports.sportlogiq.com/nll/GS2219.html