The Toronto Rock scored three goals in the final 1:59 to defeat the Seals, 15-13, on Saturday night at Pechanga Arena. It was San Diego’s first loss at Pechanga Arena this season.
During a chippy first quarter, the Seals exploded for six goals. They fell behind 3-1 early before outscoring Toronto 5-2 to close out the period and take a 6-5 lead. The six-goal outburst included a pair each by Jacob Dunbar and Wes Berg, in addition to goals by season scoring leader Austin Staats and Tre Leclaire.
The second quarter had more offensive fireworks as the teams combined for eight goals, four by each side. For the Seals it was two more by Staats and a pair from veteran Dane Dobbie, who last night moved into sole possession of sixth place on the NLL’s all-time scoring list.
It was a completely different story in the third quarter as the teams went scoreless for the first 9:28 until Marley Angus scored for Toronto to tie the game, 10-10. A pivotal moment in the game came just 23 seconds later when Toronto’s Sheldon Burns was called for a five-minute major after cross-checking Jake Govett, but the Seals were only able to capitalize with one goal, Dobbie’s third of the night, and the Seals led 11-10 after three quarters.
Both teams offenses warmed back up in the fourth. Toronto scored two quick goals to go up 12-11, but the Seals answered with a power-play goal by Leclaire and Staats’ fourth of the night to reclaim the lead, 13-12. The score remained as such for the next 7:50 until Toronto tied the game with a goal at the 1:59 mark and took the lead 53 seconds later. The Rock added an empty-netter for the final goal of the night as they closed out the win.
With the loss, the Seals fall to 8-4 on the season.
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