Photo courtesy of the San Diego Seals X page
The San Diego Seals (7-9) visited the Georgia Swarm (10-6) at the Gas South Arena in Duluth, Georgia.
San Diego was still pushing to getting the playoffs, while Georgia was looking to secure a home date in the upcoming playoffs.
Both teams have been unpredictable this season, not surprising anyone if the game was a scorefest, or a goalie dual. The Seals have been a balanced goal-scoring team this year with Tre Leclaire, Wes Berg, Dylan Watson, Connor Robinson and Ben McIntosh leading the way. The Swarm had a lot of firepower as well with Kaleb Benedict, Bryan Cole, Nolan Byrne, Shayne Jackson, and Lyle Thompson.
The goaltending match-up had Chris Origlieri in net for San Diego facing Brett Dobson in net for the Swarm.
San Diego jumped out to an early lead and never really looked back, powered by a dominant opening quarter from Wes Berg. Berg factored into all three first-quarter goals, scoring once and adding two assists as the Seals built a 3–1 advantage, capitalizing twice on the power play. Georgia responded in spurts behind Shayne Jackson and Lyle Thompson, but San Diego’s balanced attack kept them in control. Goals from Chris Kavanagh and Noah Armitage in the second extended the lead, while Berg struck again late in the half to make it 6–3 heading into the break.
The Swarm pushed in the second half, cutting into the deficit with a pair of power-play goals and a late surge in the fourth quarter, but San Diego answered each time momentum threatened to shift. Armitage and Ben McIntosh helped maintain the cushion, with McIntosh’s fourth-quarter goal sealing a 9–7 win. Despite Georgia’s special teams success and a strong three-goal effort from Nolan Byrne, the Seals’ early lead proved to be the difference.
To The Game:
San Diego came out flying in the opening quarter, building an early lead behind a strong offensive push. Wes Berg opened the scoring at 1:57, and Ben McIntosh followed with a power-play marker midway through the frame to make it 2–0.
Nolan Byrne got Georgia Swarm on the board at 6:38, but San Diego answered again on the man advantage, as Zach Currier dove across the crease to restore the two-goal cushion.
After one quarter, San Diego 3 Georgia 1.
Second Quarter:
San Diego kept their foot on the gas in the second quarter, continuing to control the pace and extend their lead. Chris Kavanagh opened the scoring with his first NLL goal at 3:03, finishing a setup from Adam Steenhuis to make it 4–1. Georgia responded midway through the frame with a goal from Jeff Henrick, but San Diego answered quickly as Noah Armitage restored the three-goal cushion.
The Swarm stayed within striking distance thanks to a power-play marker from Shayne Jackson at 8:22, cutting the deficit to 5–3. However, Wes Berg capped off a strong half for the Seals with his second of the game at 12:01.
At the half, San Diego 6 Georgia 3.
Third Quarter:
The Seals responded quickly to Georgia’s early push and pulled away in the third quarter, outscoring the Swarm 3–1 to take firm control of the game.
Shayne Jackson opened the scoring on the power play at 3:11 to bring Georgia within two, but the Seals answered just 19 seconds later as Noah Armitage restored the three-goal cushion.
San Diego continued to dictate the pace for the remainder of the frame, and a late power-play marker from Ben McIntosh at 13:14 extended the lead to four heading into the final quarter.
After three quarters, San Diego 8 Georgia 4.
Fourth Quarter:
Georgia made things interesting late with a pair of power-play goals, as Lyle Thompson and Nolan Byrne cut the deficit to two.
After Byrne struck again in the final seconds to bring the Swarm within one, Ben McIntosh’s late tally stood as the difference, sealing the San Diego win.
Final score, San Diego 9 Georgia 7.
The Three Stars:
1. Ben McIntosh
2. Wes Berg
3. Brett Dobson
Game Stats:
- Shots on goal favored the Seals 56-40.
- The faceoff battle was dominated by San Diego 15-4.
- The loose ball battle was won by the Seals 82-49.
- San Diego went 3 for 5 on the power-play, while Georgia went 4 for 5.
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