Caden Balint – Albany Correspondent, Stream Punk Sports / All Lacrosse All The Time
In front of a packed house of 10,800 fans at the Scotiabank Centre, the Halifax Thunderbirds (10-6) delivered one of their most complete performances of the season, defeating the San Diego Seals (8-8) by a score of 13-10 on Saturday night. The victory not only avenged an early-season loss but also clinched a postseason berth for Halifax, as they continue to climb the NLL standings.
Seals Strike Early
The Seals came out firing on all cylinders, looking to assert dominance with a fast-paced offense. San Diego jumped out to a 3-1 lead just five minutes into the opening quarter, thanks to quick goals from Danny Logan, Wes Berg, and Ben McIntosh. Halifax countered with a pair of goals from Randy Staats and Thomas Hoggarth, but the Seals maintained their edge, ending the first quarter up 5-3.
Despite trailing, the Thunderbirds showed early signs of life, moving the ball well on offense and steadily testing Seals goalie Chris Origlieri more aggressively as the quarter closed.
Thunderbirds Take Flight
The second quarter belonged to Halifax, as they scored six of the eight goals in the frame. Key adjustments on both ends of the floor helped swing the momentum drastically. The Thunderbirds went on a four-goal run behind strong ball movement, gritty inside play, and timely stops from backup goaltender Drew Hutchison, who entered the game in relief of Warren Hill.
Mike Robinson ignited the run, followed by back-to-back goals from Dawson Theede, with the surge capped by a goal from Thomas Hoggarth. Randy Staats continued his stellar night, adding two more goals in the quarter. By the time the halftime horn sounded, Halifax had outscored San Diego 6-2 in the second and took a 9-7 lead into the locker room.
Finishing Strong
The second half saw both Halifax and San Diego tighten up defensively, combining for only seven goals across the final two quarters compared to the 16 scored in the first half. Goaltenders Drew Hutchison and Chris Origlieri locked in, putting on an absolute clinic to keep their teams in the game.
With Halifax holding a two-goal lead entering the fourth quarter, the fans were treated to a dramatic finish. The Thunderbirds came out determined, putting together a dominant defensive stand and netting three critical goals in the final 10 minutes to keep the Seals at bay and secure the win.
Key Performers
Halifax Thunderbirds:
- Randy Staats: 4 goals, 2 assists
- Thomas Hoggarth: 2 goals, 2 assists
- Clarke Petterson: 1 goal, 6 assists
- Dawson Theede: 2 goals
- Cody Jamieson: 1 goal, 2 assists
- Mike Robinson: 1 goal, 2 assists
- Jake Withers: 16/27 in the faceoff circle, 2 assists
- Drew Hutchison: 39 saves on 44 shots
San Diego Seals:
- Ben McIntosh: 3 goals, 3 assists
- Wesley Berg: 2 goals, 1 assist
- Zach Currier: 2 goals, 2 assists
- Rob Hellyer: 1 goal, 4 assists
- Ryan Benesch: 1 goal, 3 assists
- Chris Origlieri: 36 saves on 48 shots
Looking Ahead
With the win, Halifax improves to 10-6 and locks in a spot in the 2025 NLL Playoffs. With two regular season games remaining, the Thunderbirds will aim to improve their seeding and carry momentum into the postseason. That journey continues as they travel to Banditland for a crucial matchup against the Buffalo Bandits.
For San Diego, the loss drops them to 8-8. Despite going 5-3 in their last eight games, this setback increases the pressure heading into the final stretch of the season. With a critical home-and-home series upcoming against the Albany FireWolves, the Seals know it’s all hands on deck as they battle to secure a playoff berth.