Photo Credit: Greg Pettus

June 29, 2024.  The San Diego Growlers were ready for revenge and the rematch at Mission Bay HS after a hard fought, close loss to the Spiders last week in Oakland.

Like the sunny conditions, the Growlers got off to a hot start with a hold and a two break scores from Michael Tran to Jimmy McGuinness, then a layout block from Reggie Sung led to a UCSD connection from Daniel Pryke to Tynan Sander.  The Spiders bounced back with a hold and break of their own, and San Diego held on the next point, 4-2.  Max Gibson had a run though block on the next possession and Sung dished to Jordan Queckboerner for another break. The teams traded holds with a Tom Konogeris goal, then Bryce Lozinski recorded a block and was rewarded by Tran with the bookend score at the buzzer, 7-3.

Oakland responded well in the second quarter with a hold and two breaks to get within one score.  San Diego fought back with a Travis Dunn assist to Gibson, and saw great defensive plays on the next point from Sung and Tran which led to a timeout.  On the ensuing play, the Growlers offense took care of business with a Matt Miller to Peter Lenz break score to pull ahead 9-6.  San Diego took advantage of Oakland turnovers to break again with Max Hume’s skying grab and assist to McGuinness. After a back and forth last point of the first half, the Growlers had another chance to break but the Spiders called timeout with 7 seconds left and executed the buzzer beater score, 10-7.

The Growlers began a series of offensive holds with a Dunn to Casey Wu connection, and the Spiders shoved back with a hold of their own.  Peter Lenz curved the disc into the corner of the endzone and KJ Koo toed the line for the score, but Oakland answered.  On the next point, Daniel Pryke had an impressive layout block, but San Diego could not cash in on the break opportunity.  As the seesaw continued, Miller threw a perfect 50 yard backhand to Oliver Artus, but once again the Spiders held.  Despite a massive foot block by Ethan Li, San Diego could not convert the elusive break.  Kyle Rubin saved a couple possessions with layout catches and also fired a smooth backhand to Lenz for the goal. After a great chance to break with under 30 seconds left, a Growlers throwaway led to a Spiders hold at the end of the quarter, 16-13.

San Diego finally secured the break they had been working for after an Oakland turnover, Growlers timeout, and a Koo to Dunn score down the sideline. Another Spiders throwaway led to a Tran huck to a diving Casey Shugarman for the break, 18-13.  San Diego had a chance to break three times in a row, but Oakland converted a hold, but with only 6:30 remaining on the clock.  After another long point with multiple timeouts and a great block by Stefan Samu, the Growlers earned a key hold with 3:51 left. The Spiders held and got a break back, but it was too little too late as San Diego cruised to a 20-16 victory to keep their playoff hopes alive!

The Growlers were led by Peter Lenz (1 assists, 4 goals, 1 block) and Michael Tran (3 assists, 2 blocks) with a +4 performances each.

Next on tap, the Growlers travel to Los Angeles on Sun, July 7 to battle the Aviators in another must win SoCal rivalry game.