The Toronto Rock have won their first game of the 2026 National Lacrosse League Cup semifinals. On Friday from the Toronto Dominion Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario, the Rock defeated the San Diego Seals 14-12.
The game was tied at nine after three quarters. Then in the fourth quarter, the Rock outscored the Seals 5-3.
Sam English of Burlington, Ontario and Challen Rogers of Coquitlam, British Columbia led the Rock with five points each. English and Rogers both had three goals and two assists. Meanwhile, Mark Matthews of Oshawa, Ontario also had the hat trick, and added an assist for four points.
Two more Rock players had a multi-goal game. They were Owen Hintz of Peterborough, Ontario, and Chris Boushy, who both scored twice. The other Rock goal scorer was Dan Craig of Shelburne, Ontario.
The series now shifts three time zones to southern California on Sunday. Game two of the best out of three series will be at San Diego’s Pechanga Arena at 4pm MT.
On Saturday, the other NLL Cup semifinal will commence as the Halifax Thunderbirds will play the Georgia Swarm from Gas South Arena in Duluth, Georgia. The Thunderbirds are coming off a masterful quarterfinal win over the Vancouver Warriors last weekend where they did not give up a second half goal in a 10-7 win.
