(Photo courtesy of Ryan McCullough/Toronto Rock)
The San Diego Seals visited the Toronto Rock in game one of their National Lacrosse League (NLL) semi-final at the TD Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario.
San Diego’s offense has come alive over the last number of weeks looking to get out to a good start against Toronto. The Seals have scored 13 or more goals in their last three games, something they did just three times total during the regular season, and they’ve scored 52 total goals in their last four outings. Led by Wes Berg and Zach Currier, the Seals look to play aggressive against the Rock.
Toronto has looked good down the stretch with a balanced offensive attack. Rookies CJ Kirst, Owen Hiltz, and Sam English have all added tremendous value to an already potent lineup. With Mark Matthews, Josh Dawick, Chris Boushy and Dan Craig all healthy, Toronto will be able to come from all angles at the Seals.
The goaltending match-up had Chris Origlieri in net for San Diego facing Nick Rose in net for the Rock.
The Toronto Rock came out sharp and controlled the opening quarter, jumping out to a 4–1 lead with a quick offensive burst. After getting on the board early, Toronto strung together goals from Mark Matthews, Challen Rogers, and Owen Hiltz in a tight stretch that put San Diego Seals on their heels. The Seals managed a response from a Dylan Watson tally, but Toronto’s pace and ball movement gave them firm control through fifteen minutes.
The second quarter flipped the script. San Diego clawed their way back into the game with a strong push led by Tre Leclaire and Watson, eventually tying things at six apiece. Toronto answered key moments with a pair from Chris Boushy to briefly regain momentum, but the Seals continued to respond, showing resilience and balance in transition.
The third quarter saw Toronto seize control with a composed, methodical push. Mark Matthews sparked the surge early, and the Rock quickly built a three-goal cushion with contributions from Dan Craig and Sam English. San Diego refused to fade, though, answering with a late-quarter rally led by Zack Currier, Ben McIntosh, and Tre Leclaire to erase the deficit. By the end of the frame, what once looked like a Toronto runaway had tightened into a 9–9 deadlock, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
In the fourth, the intensity only climbed. Toronto regained the lead on a power-play marker from Owen Hiltz, but San Diego countered with authority, briefly pulling ahead behind McIntosh’s continued dominance. Captain Challen Rogers responded in a clutch moment to tie things again, and from there Matthews and Rogers took over, combining for back-to-back goals in the final two minutes. Even with McIntosh completing his hat trick late, Toronto had the final word, Sam English sealing it with 23 seconds remaining to cap a hard-fought 14–12 victory in a game defined by momentum swings and timely execution.
To The Game:
Sam English got the Rock on the board grabbing a loose ball and going coast to coast unassisted at 5:05, but Dylan Watson diving from behind the net off a Zach Currier pass at 7:47 tied the game for the Seals.
Mark Matthews regained Toronto’s lead with a howitzer from the outside off a Challen Rogers pass at 9:37, followed by Rogers himself on a great individual effort fighting to get to the net at 10:08. Owen Hiltz then dove across the crease off a beautiful pass from Hugh Kelleher at 10:42 to increase the lead to three.
After one quarter, Toronto 4 San Diego 1.
Second Quarter:
Dylan Watson got the Seals on the board with a high to low laser from the outside off a Ben McIntosh pass at 1:32, Tre Leclaire then added another goal from the outside that beat Rose five-hole off a Zach Currier pass at 2:44.
However, Chris Boushy got the Rock back on track with a blast to the shortside unassisted at 3:50.
Noah Armitage scored from the side of the net off a Wes Berg pass at 4:40, followed by Tre Leclaire with a sidearm snipe off a Zach Currier feed at 5:28 to tie the game.
Chris Origlieri was taken out of the San Diego net with an apparent injury.
Toronto took the lead in transition when Chris Boushy converted a perfect pass from Josh Jubenville at 7:12, but a blast from Connor Robinson found the back of the net at 10:20 tying the game once again.
At the half, Toronto 6 San Diego 6.
Third Quarter:
Mark Matthews opened the third quarter scoring shorthanded converting a perfect feed from Latrell Harris in transition at 1:34, followed by Dan Craig beside the net off a Josh Jubenville feed at 8:22. Sam English then scored 0:10 seconds later unassisted to restore the three goal lead.
Zach Currier got San Diego closer scoring from the top of the crease off a Tre Leclaire pass at 9:51, followed by Ben McIntosh from in front converting a Noah Armitage pass at 11:02. The Seals then tied the game when Tre Leclaire finished a Wes Berg pass from behind the net at 14:30.
After three quarters, Toronto 9 San Diego 9.
Fourth Quarter:
The Rock opened the fourth quarter scoring on the power-play when Owen Hiltz fired a shot from in close off a Mark Matthews pass at 1:10, but Connor Robinson answered back for San Diego also on the power-play at 2:12.
Ben McIntosh gave the Seals their first lead with a blast through the five-hole off a Tre Leclaire feed at 5:26, but an outside blast from Challen Rogers tied the game once more at 5:28.
After killing a penalty, the Rock took the ball up the floor with Mark Matthews finding the corner off a Challen Rogers pass at 13:27, followed by Rogers himself with a goal 0:25 seconds later.
Ben McIntosh scored from behind the net off at 14:13, but an empty net goal from Sam English off a long lead pass from Nick Rose at 14:37 restored the two goal lead.
Final score, Toronto 14 San Diego 12.
The Three Stars:
1. Mark Matthews
2. Tre Leclaire
3. Sam English
Game Stats:
- Shots on goal favored San Diego 56-46.
- The faceoff battle went to the Seals 16-14.
- The loose ball battle was won by San Diego 73-66.
- The Seals went 1 for 3 on the power-play, while Toronto went 1 for 4, also scoring a shorthanded goal.
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