Casey Jackson and Dan Dawson each scored twice as the San Diego Seals broke open what had been a two-goal game by scoring the final six goals of the third quarter in a 15-9 victory over the Calgary Roughnecks Friday evening at Pechanga Arena San Diego.
Jackson and Austin Staats each scored three times for the Seals (3-2) before a crowd announced at 7,283. The announced attendance for their home debut six days earlier was 12,075.
The Seals led 8-5 at halftime. Dane Dobbie scored one minute, 36 seconds into the third quarter, as Calgary cut the deficit to 8-6.
The Seals began their run of six unanswered goals 57 seconds later on Connor Kearnan’s goal. There was no more scoring until Jackson’s goal 8:39 into the quarter. Dawson and Jackson scored power-play goals 35 seconds apart to increase the Seals lead to 12-6 with 3:05 left in the 15-minute quarter.
Staats and Dawson scored 27 seconds apart to give the Seals a 14-6 lead with 14 seconds left in the third quarter.
Calgary (3-3) scored the first three goals of the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to 14-9 with 9:15 left.
Seals transition player Adrian Sorichetti scored the National Lacrosse League game’s final goal into an empty net with 7:36 left.
“We didn’t have our best showing the last time we played Calgary,” Seals coach Patrick Merrill said, referring to a 9-5 loss Dec. 28 at Calgary. “We know how good they are and how well they are coached. It’s nice to be able to come out and get this win. The game was chippy, intense and passionate, but the guys played for their teammates.”
The Seals led in shots, 62-46. Seals goaltender Frank Scigliano (3-2) made 37 saves. Roughnecks goaltender Christian Del Bianco (3-3) made 47.
The Seals scored on three of their eight power-play opportunities and killed four of Calgary’s five.
The Seals allowed the game’s first two goals, but led 3-2 at the end of the first quarter as Staats scored twice and Brodie Merrill once.
The Seals took a 6-5 lead they would never relinquish on Jackson’s goal 2:53 before halftime. Garrett Billings and Johnny Pearson scored seven seconds apart to give the Seals a 8-5 lead with 2:09 left in the first half.
Kyle Buchanan and Billings scored earlier in the second quarter for the Seals, who will play at Vancouver Saturday night.
Chris Boushy, Dobbie and Rhys Duch each scored twice for the Roughnecks.
— City News Service