Molici buries OT winner for Sea Spray

Lee Jackman made 53 saves as the Sea Spray outlasted the Black Fish 14-13 in overtime in Arena Lacrosse League action at Langley Events Centre on Nov. 27. Ryan Molag LEC photo

Facing an 0-3 hole to start the season, the Sea Spray went on a 4-0 run to force overtime before Jared Moloci’s second of the game was the winner in sudden-death overtime in a 14-13 win over the Black Fish.

The teams were playing on Sunday afternoon at Langley Events Centre in week 3 Arena Lacrosse League West Division action. Both teams now sit with 1-2 records.

“I saw short side was open a lot that entire game. The shift before I missed it, but I knew I could get it if I had the open chance again and ended up burying it,” Molici said of the game-winner, which came at 8:28 of the overtime period.

The Sea Spray won despite being out-shot 66-50 for the game, including 7-4 in overtime as the Black Fish had a power-play opportunity in the extra period. But Lee Jackman was solid in the Sea Spray net, finishing with 53 saves. He had allowed nine goals on 33 shots in the first half before stopping 29 of 33 in the final two quarters and overtime.

Jackman was the game’s third star with teammate Keegan Bell earning first-star honours following his three-goal, seven-point performance. The Black Fish’s Chase McIntyre was the second star with a hat trick and five points.

The game began great for the Sea Spray as they led 6-3 after a quarter before the Black Fish battled back to lead 9-7 at the half and 10-9 after three quarters. The Black Fish would extend the lead to 12-9 with just over 11 minutes remaining but Bell and Vinny Ricci scored goals 18 seconds apart on a five-minute power play and Trevor Funk and James Rahe added tallies 31 second apart to give them a one-goal with 4:06 to play. Brian Gillis responded for the Black Fish to force the extra period.

“That was a huge win. The difference psychologically between 0-3 and 1-2 is big. We knew today was our strongest line-up that we have had so far this year,” said Sea Spray coach Russ Heard. “We really bore down well in the fourth quarter and got ourselves the win.”

“As a new guy on this team, knowing the Sea Spray are the defending champs, I knew the boys could pull it together. We are a very gritty team and if you really compete – loose balls, solid passes, swinging the ball on offence – we will win a lot of games here,” Molici added. “We finished the job and got the win.”

BOX SCORE

While Bell (3+4) led all scorers with seven points, Rahe (4+2) and Ricci (1+4) were right behind with six and five points, respectively. Funk (2+2) finished with four points while Moloci scored twice and Aidan Ellis and Gordie Phillips had a goal apiece. Phillips was also 19-7 in the face-off circle, earning his team multiple extra possessions.

McIntyre (3+2) led the Black Fish while Ryan Jones and Brian Gillis each had a goal and four points. Nick Jensen scored twice and Jordan Roberts, Matt Kristansen, Reece Barnes and Laszlo Henning each had a goal and an assist and Brendan Shea and Aiden Murphy scored one goal apiece.

Matt Hiebert made 36 saves on 50 shots for the Black Fish.

Sea Spray's James Rahe had four goals and six points in his team's 14-13 overtime win over the Black Fish on November 27 in Arena Lacrosse League action at Langley Events Centre. Ryan Molag LEC photo

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