Rippberger stops 50 as Sea Spray break into win column

Marc Rippberger makes one of his 50 saves as the Sea Spray won 11-8 in Arena Lacrosse West Division action at Langley Events Centre on Nov. 17. Ryan Molag photo

The Sea Spray scored early – four goals in 9:54 – and then late – three in 65 seconds – to make up for the middle portion of the game, defeating the Black Fish 11-8.

The teams were playing in week 2 Arena Lacrosse League West Division action on Sunday at Langley Events Centre.

The early outburst gave the Sea Spray a 4-0 lead while the late final flurry helped snap an 8-8 tie as they improved to 1-1 with the win. The Black Fish fell to 0-2.

The teams were tied at four at the half and the Black Fish took their first (and only) lead of the contest at 6-4 with goals 34 seconds apart in the early stages of the third quarter. But from that point on, the Sea Spray would outscore their opponent 7-2 to secure the victory.

Thomas Semple’s hat trick goal with 2:23 to play would stand as the winner while goaltender Marc Rippberger delivered a beautiful breakaway pass to Joshua Yachney for the two-goal lead.

“We couldn’t get any chances. Some penalties and stuff slowed the flow of the game a bit. Once we were playing 5-on-5, our D and goaltending were amazing. That makes the game a little bit easier,” said Sea Spray coach Ian Paterson.

The Sea Spray won despite being outshot 58-47 with Rippberger finishing with 50 saves in his first full ALL game.

“He made the big saves when we needed them and obviously that pass (on the 10^th goal) was huge,” Paterson said, referencing Rippberger’s breakout pass while his team was short-handed and nursing a late one-goal lead.

Rippberger deflected credit to his teammates as they allowed him to see the bulk of the Black Fish shot attempts.

“They were challenging pretty much every shot and making it super easy on my part. When you can see the stick and where they are going to shoot, it gives you an idea of where they are trying to go,” Rippberger said.

In addition to Semple’s three goals while Seamus Bankier (2-2) and James Rahe (2-1) each had two-goal games. Eli Batt (1-1), Tyrell Hamer-Jackson, Levi Touhey and Yachney chipped in with a goal apiece.

For the Black Fish, Brian Gillis paced the attack with two goals and five points with Drew Andre adding a hat trick, Rhys Porteous (1-2), Cameron Ickert (1-1) and Temeke7 Gottfriedsen (1-0) had the other Black Fish goals.

Darian Claxton stopped 36 of 47 shots.

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