Back-to-back wins for suddenly-streaking Grizzlies

Five goals from Toru Morimatsu helped the Grizzlies win back-to-back game for the first time this season after an impressive 18-10 win over the Sea Spray in Arena Lacrosse League West Division action at Langley Events Centre on Feb. 4. Gary Ahuja photo

Don’t look now, but it’s back-to-back wins for the Grizzlies.

The team has been mired in a seven-game losing streak prior to a huge win in week 9, and on Tuesday night, the Grizzlies made it consecutive victories with a dominant 18-10 defeat of the Sea Spray at Langley Events Centre.

The Grizzlies improved to 3-7 while the Sea Spray saw their own three-game win streak come to an end as their record fell to 4-6 in the Arena Lacrosse League West Division.

The Sea Spray had scored twice (both while short-handed) to cut the score to 3-2 before the Grizzlies struck for six goals and a lead they would not relinquish. The first four of that 6-0 run came in a span of less than four minutes.

It marked the second consecutive game where the Grizzlies locked things down defensively over the first three quarters as the Sea Spray managed just four goals in the first 45 minutes. In week 9, the Grizzlies were even stingier, allowing a single tally heading into the fourth.

Even more impressive was the fact the team has done this in back-to-back games with different starting goaltenders as Brayden Wandler got the nod on Tuesday night and responded with a 45-save effort.

And with Wandler and the defence limiting the Sea Spray at one end, Toru Morimatsu and Kyle Brunsch each scored five times. Brunsch also had an assist to lead an offence which scored a season-high in goals, besting their week 1 effort of 14 goals.

Dennon Armstrong (4-1), Nash Moog (1-4) matched Morimatsu’s five-point effort while Marcello Mannarino and James Bakers both had a goal and two helpers with Aidan Baker chipping in a goal and an assist. Erik Forsellius added four assists.

For the Sea Spray, Matthew Wood (3-3) and Trevayne Hunter (3-1) each had hat tricks with Thomas Semple finishing with a goal and four assists. Ryan Heard, Kai George and Adam Dickson completed the team’s scoring with one goal apiece.

Marc Rippberger (13 saves on 20 shots) and Lee Jackman (27 saves on 38 shots) shared the Sea Spray goaltending duties.

Both teams are back in action on Saturday (February 8) at Langley Events Centre with the Grizzlies playing the first-place Shooting Eagles at 1:00pm while the Sea Spray face the Black Fish at 4:00pm.

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