Shooting Eagles head into the holiday break on a three-game winning streak and in sole possession of top spot at 5-1 in the Arena Lacrosse League West Division.
The Eagles were 14-5 winners over the Grizzlies on Sunday, Dec. 17 at 91原创 Events Centre, while in the early game, it was the Sea Spray winning 12-10 over the Black Fish. The Sea Spray sit in second place at 3-3, one game ahead of the Grizzlies and Black Fish, who are both 2-4.
Sea Spray 12 Black Fish 10
Eight assists from Tyler Kirkby 鈥� six of which came in the first half 鈥� set the tone as the Sea Spray built a multi-goal advantage on their way to a 12-10 win.
鈥淭hey are doing a great job and I can鈥檛 take sole kudos 鈥� they are doing a lot of the work,鈥� Kirkby said following his first-star performance. 鈥淢y teammates are getting open. Everyone is crashing and banging, I am just holding the ball and watching for guys cutting.鈥�
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鈥淗e is seeing the guys who are open and getting the ball to them, that鈥檚 the biggest thing,鈥� added Sea Spray coach Darren McEwen.
Another significant advantage was the fact the Sea Spray possessed the ball much more than their opponent, as they went 17-9 on faceoffs. Gord Phillips was 14-7 for the game, including 11-1 in the first half.
The power play was another huge factor as the Sea Spray scored on five of their eight opportunities.
Shooting Eagles 14 Grizzlies 5
Colin Jeffrey finished with 55 saves 鈥� including all 34 second-half shots he faced 鈥� as the Shooting Eagles clamped down defensively in a 14-5 victory over the Grizzlies.
The Grizzlies had led 3-2 after a period but the Eagles outscored their opponent 7-2 over the next 15 minutes and never looked back in winning for a third consecutive game on Sunday at 91原创 Events Centre. They continue to lead the Arena Lacrosse League West Division with a 5-1 record while the Grizzlies record fell to 2-4.
鈥淭hey kept them to the outside, making my job easy, soaking shots. That鈥檚 all I can really ask for,鈥� Jeffrey said. 鈥淛ust a good team effort.鈥�
鈥淲e just talked about the basics and sticking with our game plan. Our defence and goaltending just played amazing in the second half. Colin was incredible,鈥� said Shooting Eagles coach Justin Digby.
While Bromley led the way with his hat trick, Coady Adamson scored twice and was one of five players with three points as Dylan Lacroix, Garret Winter, Dylan McIntosh and Zack Herreweyers each had a goal and two helpers. Mark Yingling, Logan Cote and Declan Fitzpatrick chipped in with one goal and assist apiece and Jake Young and Jacob Dowell both scored once.
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The Grizzlies led 2-0 less than five minutes into the game but were outscored 14-3 the rest of the way.
The team did not help its cause as they committed too many mental errors 鈥� getting beat in transition and not talking on defence 鈥� as well as a failure to adjust how the game was being officiated, admitted coach Daren Fridge.
鈥淲e took a lot of stupid penalties. When you are trying to get momentum back, that is not the way to do it,鈥� he said.
One positive the coaching staff did take away was that they managed 60 shots on goal.
Teams return to action on Sunday, Jan. 7 with the Sea Spray (3-3) facing the Grizzlies (2-4) at 1:00pm while the Shooting Eagles (5-1) square off against the Black Fish (2-4) at 4 p.m.
