It was close.
Black Fish and Shooting Eagles were tenacious winners in Week 8 Arena Lacrosse League West Division action at 91原创 Events Centre on Sunday, Jan, 14.
The Black Fish won 14-13 over the Grizzlies while the Shooting Eagles were 16-14 victors over the Sea Spray.
Black Fish 14 Grizzlies 13
A dominant second-half stretch proved key for the Black Fish.
Trailing 8-7 early in the third quarter, the Black Fish went on a 7-2 run over the next 16:34 to build a four-goal lead with a half a period to play. And that spurt proved crucial as the Grizzlies scored three times to pull within one, but could get no closer, falling 14-13.
The victory 鈥� their second consecutive win 鈥� improved the Black Fish to 4-4 while the Grizzlies are still searching for answers following a fifth-straight defeat as they sit at 2-6.
鈥淚t seemed like we woke up a little bit,鈥� said Black Fish coach Bryan Poole. 鈥淚n the first two quarters, we were getting our opportunities, but nothing was really falling for us. But we kept plugging away and in the third, we were moving the ball and getting our feet going.
READ ALSO: Sea Spray, Black Fish winners in week 7 of Arena Lacrosse League
Josh Mills and Connor Watson each had two goals and five points and were the first and third stars, respectively, for the winners.
Jordan Roberts led the team in scoring as he finished with a four-goal game while Aiden Murphy (2-1), Laszlo Henning (1-3), Brian Gillis (1-2), Temeke7 Gottfriedsen (1-1) and Nick Jensen (1-0) rounded out the team鈥檚 scoring.
Drew Kask was the second star with three goals and six points and he was one of three Grizzlies with hat tricks as Pearson Willis and Kyle Brunsch each scored three times and finished with five points while Conner Whyte (2-3) also matched their five-point efforts. Nash Moog and Jack Dulong scored once each to complete their team鈥檚 scoring. Brayden Wandler stopped 35 of 49 shots.
Shooting Eagles 16 Sea Spray 14
Trailing by a goal late with two minutes remaining, Coady Adamson and Dylan McIntosh scored 22 seconds apart with McIntosh then sealing his team鈥檚 16-14 victory with an empty-netter, improving the Shooting Eagles to an ALL West best of 6-2. Their opponent in Sunday鈥檚 contest at 91原创 Events Centre, the Sea Spray, sit tied for second at 4-4 following the defeat.
鈥淚t was a good team effort,鈥� said Mark Yingling, who was one of four Eagles players to register a hat trick. He also set up three goals to finish with six points and was the game鈥檚 second star.
鈥淚t is easier when everyone is going and putting the ball in the net and you are not just going through one guy. That is what we do on this team: everyone plays their role well,鈥� he added.
While Yingling led the way with six points, Spencer Bromley and Coady Adamson both had three goals and two assists while McIntosh (3-1) was the fourth member of the team to register a hat trick. Garret Winter (2-1), Dylan Lacroix (1-2) and Isaac Richmond (1-0) had the other goals.
READ ALSO: Shooting Eagles extend streak, Sea Spray sit in second place after week 6 of ALL action
For the Sea Spray, Kordell Primus was the game鈥檚 first star with six goals and seven points and Tyler Kirkby was star No. 3 following a three-goal, eight-point performance. Lukas Nielsen (2-1), Connor De Wit (1-1), Liam Hoogstraten (1-1) and Ryan Heard (1-0) rounded out the team鈥檚 offence. Keegan Melynchuk stopped 48 of 63 shots as his team was outshot in the game.
Up next, Week 9 features a battle of 4-4 teams as the Black Fish take on the Sea Spray at 1 p.m. while the 6-2 first-place Shooting Eagles face the 2-6 Grizzlies at 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21 at 91原创 Events Centre.
