Shooting Eagles are now undefeated in six games following a 17-14 win over the Sea Spray as Arena Lacrosse League West Division play resumed following the holiday break with a doubleheader on Saturday, Jan. 4 at Langley Events Centre.
Earlier, the Black Fish won their third straight game, defeating the Grizzlies 16-11.
Black Fish 16 Grizzlies 11
Black Fish evened their record to 3-3 following a 16-11 win over the Grizzlies on Saturday afternoon. The Grizzlies suffered a fifth straight defeat and now sit at 1-5.
Making his season debut for the Black Fish, Brandon Humphrey – the two-time ALL West Most Outstanding Goaltender – stopped 33 of 40 shots before heading to the bench for the fourth quarter. Keegan Okino finished up with nine saves on 13 shots.
“Even though I love having him, there is no question in my mind, Brandon should be on a team in the NLL,” said Black Fish coach Rod Jensen, adding that the goaltender provides an added sense of security and confidence to his teammates just because of his experience and resume.
Trailing 3-2 late in the first quarter, they rattled off seven unanswered goals as they held a commanding advantage for the duration of the game.
With Humphrey providing stellar goaltending at one end of the floor, Ethan M’Lot led the Black Fish attack with four goals and seven points, earning first star honours.
“Everyone was just knocking off the Christmas dinner and the holiday break but as soon as we got going, no one could stop us there for a bit,” M’Lot said.
Shooting Eagles 17 Sea Spray 14
Not feeling well ahead of Saturday’s game, Dylan McIntosh warned coach Adam Smith that he wasn’t sure how much he would be able to give, or if he would even make it through the entire 60 minutes.
He did better than just make it through, as it turned out.
McIntosh scored a sock trick with his six goals leading the Eagles to a 17-14 win over the Sea Spray on Saturday afternoon at Langley Events Centre, improving his team to 6-0 in the Arena Lacrosse League West Division. The Sea Spray saw their record fall to 2-4.
“When your energy isn’t where you want it to be, you have to play a little smarter, slow the game down,” he explained. “I got to the right spots and my teammates hit me where I wanted the ball, and my shots were going.”
Sea Spray’s James Rahe potted eight goals and one assist to earn the first star and set a new ALL West record for goals in a game, bettering the previous mark of seven which was held by multiple players.
McIntosh said having someone on the opposition putting up monster numbers definitely gets his attention.
“Absolutely it motivates me. I want to be the one leading in the points department and when I have a guy like James Rahe – a phenomenal player – going point-for-point, it motivates me, absolutely,” McIntosh said.
McIntosh – who is on the practice squad for the NLL’s Vancouver Warriors – has suited up in three of the Eagles’ six games with 14 goals.
“We are super fortunate to have him with us. I think at any point in time, he can go up to the other league and do well. As long as he is with us, we will take advantage,” said coach Adam Smith. “He seems to be in the right spot on the floor and takes the right cuts at the right time.”
Next, all four teams are back in action at Langley Events Centre on Saturday (Jan. 11) with the Black Fish (3-3) facing the Sea Spray (2-4) at 3 p.m. followed by the Shooting Eagles (6-0) and Grizzlies (1-5) at 6 p.m.
