The Buffalo Bandits overcame a four-goal deficit in the final minutes to defeat the San Diego Seals 9-8 in overtime, according to a March 27 report. The team had trailed throughout most of the game and did not score a five-on-five goal until the fourth quarter.
The win is notable as one of the season’s most improbable comebacks for any National Lacrosse League (NLL) team. With just over five minutes left, Buffalo was down by four goals but managed to score five straight times, clinching victory in overtime.
Dhane Smith scored both the tying goal with 44 seconds remaining and the game-winner in overtime. Josh Byrne led all players with seven points, while Kyle Buchanan collected three loose balls, including one that proved pivotal late in regulation. “It’s a combination of trust and belief,” Byrne said. “At the end of the day we know what we’re capable of…we have the players and firepower on offense…and on defense they give us ability to go on a run.” Head coach John Tavares described Tehoka Nanticoke as “the Bandits’ most consistent offensive player” following his key fourth-quarter goal.
Buchanan recalled realizing during play that there was still enough time for Buffalo to tie or win: “I thought to myself, ‘Alright, we have enough possessions here…Our defense was doing a great job at that point so I knew we’d be getting the ball back.’” Connor Farrell’s faceoff win with under a minute left set up Smith’s equalizer; Buchanan called Farrell “huge for us lately in pretty big games.” After Buchanan recovered an important loose ball during a broken play, he passed it off before Smith tied it up: “That was a huge loose ball for our team. We needed it more than anything,” Smith said.
In overtime, Byrne and Smith again combined for decisive plays. Buchanan described setting up Smith’s winning shot: “I looked up and I saw a matchup that I liked for Dhane so I flipped him the ball…I just tried to give space for him.” Smith credited Buchanan’s movement off-ball: “If it wasn’t for [Buchanan], I wouldn’t have been able to put that ball in.” Reflecting on his final move against defender Graydon Bradley before scoring, Smith said: “My jab step has been kind of patented for my career…Sometimes I just try not do it, and it just happens that way.”
The victory marks another dramatic finish this season by Buffalo—who previously erased another four-goal deficit against Toronto—and demonstrates their resilience under pressure.
