fbpx

BUF at SD - Sat. 10pm ET on ESPNews Schedule

×
WK
1
Fri, Dec 2
FINAL
Philadelphia
8
Halifax
18
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Vancouver
8
Toronto
19
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
San Diego
15
New York
14
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Albany
11
Buffalo
10
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Rochester
16
Georgia
11
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Colorado
6
Saskatchewan
18
WK
2
Fri, Dec 9
FINAL
Las Vegas
11
Panther City
13
Fri, Dec 9
FINAL/OT
Saskatchewan
12
San Diego
13
Sat, Dec 10
FINAL
Toronto
7
Rochester
11
Sat, Dec 10
FINAL
Vancouver
9
Calgary
11
WK
3
Fri, Dec 16
FINAL
Calgary
14
Vancouver
5
Fri, Dec 16
FINAL
Panther City
9
Las Vegas
3
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Buffalo
11
Toronto
8
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Rochester
14
Albany
13
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Philadelphia
13
Georgia
12
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Halifax
20
New York
11
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Colorado
12
Panther City
9
WK
5
Fri, Dec 30
FINAL
Halifax
13
Buffalo
18
Fri, Dec 30
FINAL
San Diego
17
Calgary
14
Sat, Dec 31
FINAL
Panther City
9
Saskatchewan
11
WK
6
Fri, Jan 6
FINAL
Philadelphia
14
Las Vegas
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Panther City
9
Rochester
17
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Halifax
14
Albany
11
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Buffalo
18
Georgia
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Toronto
15
New York
7
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Calgary
8
Colorado
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Vancouver
11
San Diego
16
WK
7
Fri, Jan 13
FINAL/OT
Albany
11
Halifax
10
Fri, Jan 13
FINAL/OT
Saskatchewan
10
Colorado
11
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Halifax
8
Toronto
17
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Panther City
12
Philadelphia
10
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Georgia
9
Buffalo
11
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
San Diego
10
Calgary
14
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Las Vegas
16
Vancouver
19
Sun, Jan 15
FINAL
Rochester
11
New York
8
WK
8
Fri, Jan 20
FINAL
Buffalo
12
Rochester
15
Fri, Jan 20
FINAL
Vancouver
14
Las Vegas
15
Sat, Jan 21
FINAL
Toronto
14
Philadelphia
5
Sat, Jan 21
FINAL
New York
16
Albany
10
WK
9
Fri, Jan 27
FINAL
Rochester
7
Halifax
17
Fri, Jan 27
FINAL
Buffalo
13
Philadelphia
9
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Buffalo
16
New York
10
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Las Vegas
10
Saskatchewan
15
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL/OT
Toronto
11
Calgary
10
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
San Diego
13
Colorado
9
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Panther City
20
Vancouver
7
WK
10
Fri, Feb 3
FINAL
Georgia
10
Colorado
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL/OT
Calgary
12
Halifax
11
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
New York
14
Toronto
22
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Albany
5
Philadelphia
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Rochester
10
Buffalo
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Panther City
10
San Diego
12
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Saskatchewan
14
Vancouver
8
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Colorado
8
Las Vegas
13
WK
11
Fri, Feb 10
FINAL
Toronto
11
Georgia
10
Fri, Feb 10
FINAL
Saskatchewan
6
Calgary
13
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Halifax
14
Rochester
16
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Albany
12
New York
14
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Vancouver
13
Panther City
14
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Colorado
9
Calgary
13
WK
12
Fri, Feb 17
FINAL
Calgary
14
Vancouver
9
Fri, Feb 17
FINAL
Saskatchewan
16
San Diego
11
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Georgia
7
Toronto
16
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Las Vegas
12
Albany
10
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL/OT
Philadelphia
12
Buffalo
13
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Colorado
7
Panther City
13
Sun, Feb 19
FINAL
New York
12
Halifax
13
WK
13
Fri, Feb 24
FINAL
Panther City
12
Colorado
14
Fri, Feb 24
FINAL
Calgary
9
Las Vegas
11
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL/OT
New York
10
Rochester
11
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL
Albany
4
Georgia
20
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL
Vancouver
16
Saskatchewan
12
WK
14
Fri, Mar 3
FINAL
Buffalo
10
Halifax
9
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
New York
12
Philadelphia
19
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Las Vegas
12
San Diego
15
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Rochester
8
Toronto
9
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL/OT
Georgia
9
Albany
8
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Saskatchewan
10
Panther City
16
Mon, Mar 6
FINAL
Toronto
10
Philadelphia
11
WK
15
Fri, Mar 10
FINAL/OT
Halifax
9
Buffalo
10
Fri, Mar 10
FINAL
Calgary
16
Colorado
10
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Albany
6
Toronto
12
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Philadelphia
10
New York
13
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
San Diego
12
Saskatchewan
11
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Vancouver
14
Las Vegas
5
Sun, Mar 12
FINAL
Rochester
19
Georgia
18
WK
16
Fri, Mar 17
FINAL
Saskatchewan
6
Calgary
11
Fri, Mar 17
FINAL
San Diego
16
Vancouver
9
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Georgia
13
Philadelphia
12
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Toronto
12
Halifax
14
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Albany
10
New York
13
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Colorado
13
Buffalo
8
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Las Vegas
8
Panther City
11
Sun, Mar 19
FINAL/OT
Philadelphia
9
Rochester
8
WK
17
Fri, Mar 24
FINAL
San Diego
17
Panther City
9
Sat, Mar 25
19:00:00
Toronto
Albany
Sat, Mar 25
19:00:00
Halifax
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 25
19:30:00
Georgia
New York
Sat, Mar 25
21:30:00
Calgary
Saskatchewan
Sat, Mar 25
22:00:00
Buffalo
San Diego
Sat, Mar 25
22:00:00
Colorado
Vancouver
Sat, Mar 25
22:30:00
Rochester
Las Vegas
WK
18
Fri, Mar 31
19:00:00
New York
Georgia
Fri, Mar 31
21:00:00
Las Vegas
Colorado
Fri, Mar 31
22:00:00
Calgary
San Diego
Sat, Apr 1
19:00:00
Buffalo
Toronto
Sat, Apr 1
20:00:00
Albany
Panther City
Sat, Apr 1
21:30:00
Vancouver
Saskatchewan
Sun, Apr 2
13:00:00
Georgia
Halifax
Sun, Apr 2
18:00:00
Rochester
Philadelphia
WK
19
Sat, Apr 8
19:00:00
Albany
Rochester
Sat, Apr 8
19:00:00
Saskatchewan
Georgia
Sat, Apr 8
21:00:00
Panther City
Calgary
Sat, Apr 8
21:00:00
Vancouver
Colorado
Sat, Apr 8
22:30:00
San Diego
Las Vegas
WK
20
Fri, Apr 14
21:00:00
Las Vegas
Calgary
Fri, Apr 14
21:00:00
San Diego
Colorado
Sat, Apr 15
19:00:00
Philadelphia
Toronto
Sat, Apr 15
19:00:00
Georgia
Albany
Sat, Apr 15
19:30:00
New York
Buffalo
Sat, Apr 15
21:30:00
Halifax
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 15
22:00:00
Panther City
Vancouver
WK
21
Fri, Apr 21
20:30:00
Calgary
Panther City
Sat, Apr 22
18:00:00
New York
Halifax
Sat, Apr 22
19:00:00
Georgia
Rochester
Sat, Apr 22
20:00:00
Toronto
Buffalo
Sat, Apr 22
21:30:00
Colorado
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 22
22:00:00
Las Vegas
San Diego
Sun, Apr 23
15:00:00
Philadelphia
Albany
WK
22
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Philadelphia
Rochester
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Buffalo
Albany
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Halifax
Georgia
Sat, Apr 29
22:00:00
Colorado
San Diego
Sat, Apr 29
22:00:00
New York
Vancouver
Sat, Apr 29
22:30:00
Saskatchewan
Las Vegas
Powered By
MGM Logo
Scores / Schedule
Stories/Op-Ed

Wes Berg Dropping Jaws in San Diego

Wes Berg has emerged full blast into the spotlight of pro lacrosse superstardom from out of the game’s shadows with a breakout NLL season in sunny Southern California full of electrifying moments.

This season, the 28-year-old San Diego Seals forward, once perhaps a bit overshadowed and underappreciated, is now his team’s leading scorer and a solid league MVP candidate

“Maybe overlooked a little bit, but I don’t worry too much about that,” says the 6-2, 210-pound Berg, who has 53 points in 10 games so far this season. His 27 goals, many of them highlight-reel worthy, are tied for fifth-best in the league with 2020 NLL MVP Shayne Jackson of Georgia.

“Playing in the West there’s not as much media attention as back east,” says Berg, who was drafted fourth overall in 2015 by Calgary and played three seasons with the Roughnecks from 2016-18. “For the most part, teams with great players don’t worry about that. It was like that in Calgary; it’s the same story with the Seals.”

Great players also make great plays, and Berg set the lacrosse world on fire with an ice-cold sequence in San Diego’s 9-4 win over Calgary on March 4 at Pechanga Arena.

At 8:13 of the second quarter, Berg, a right-handed shot, created instant magic with a diving, around-the-world reverse backhand goal after corralling a wild, bouncing loose ball, shrugging off two Roughnecks defenders near the boards and then outfoxing two more on the way to the Calgary net, while fending off multiple slashes to his arms and hands, bodychecks and near-holds. Watch it here.

“I was on the wrong side of the floor,” Berg says. “I think the goalie thought I was going to go far side, and [I] just kind of wrapped it around and it went in. It was a good feeling. I was pretty gassed there, and I was happy to see it go in.”

The spectacular scoring effort would be the No.1 highlight on ESPN’s SportsCenter Top 10 that night, and the NLL has an electric frontrunner for goal of the year.

Last week for an encore, with the Seals at home trailing Saskatchewan 9-4 in the third quarter, Berg started a dramatic comeback by either scoring or assisting on five of the next six San Diego goals, including the helper on Jeremy Noble’s game-winner with 1.3 seconds left.

Berg’s breakout 2022 season includes recording five or more points in eight of 10 games, and three or more goals in seven of 10 games. As a team, the Seals have flourished offensively and are third in the league with 11.8 goals-for per game. San Diego is also sitting first in the West, and second overall in the NLL, at 8-2.

“We have a really dynamic offence,” says Berg. “We don’t care who scores. We just want to win. Every game is different, with different guys contributing. It’s offense by committee.”

For the most part Berg has been paired up this season with fellow right-hander Noble on the Seals’ left side. The two were NCAA teammates at Denver. There’s also rookie righty Tre Leclaire.

“It’s been a good year finishing the ball,” Berg says. “I’ve been fortunate playing with Noble. There’s been some great chemistry there with the two-man game. Off-ball, he’s such a smart player. Leclaire has adapted really quickly. He’s getting better and better.”

San Diego added right-handed offensive depth at the trade deadline, acquiring veteran goal-scorer Brett Hickey from Philadelphia in exchange for the Seals’ second-round selection in the 2024 Entry Draft.

Hickey, 31, has 190 goals and 328 points in 99 career NLL games with Philly, Toronto, and the Vancouver and Washington Stealth. At 6-2 and 225 pounds, Hickey will provide another big body on O as well as playoff experience (10 goals, 27 points in seven career postseason games).

And then there’s San Diego’s left-handed shooters, which include a couple of savvy veterans as well as Austin Staats, Casey Jackson and rookie Mac O’Keefe.

“The [lefties] are legends in the league, [Dane] Dobbie, [Zack] Greer,” says Berg. “We are tough on teams when we swing the ball. We have to keep ball moving the way we have been. But we can still be a lot better.”

Defensively, it has been much the same for the Seals. San Diego’s defense, led by captain Brodie Merrill, is the stingiest in the league, giving up just 8.7 goals-against per game and 44.4 shots-against per game. Cam Holding, an assistant captain along with Berg, transition player Tor Reinholdt and Patrick Shoemay are key contributors, and goalie Frank Scigliano has the NLL’s lowest goals-against average at 7.89.

“The long-term goal here in San Diego is to build a contender,” Berg says. “Even though we’re just couple of years into it as an expansion team, the goal is winning championships. We’re also trying to build a fan base, which is easier to do when you’re winning games at home, and grow the game through the Junior Seals program.”

The Seals have NLL championship ambitions for this season.

“You never know,” says Berg, who won an NCAA national championship with Denver in 2015 and a Minto Cup Canadian junior championship with Coquitlam in 2010. “When you look at our roster, our coaching staff, our entire organization, it’s an important year for us. [17-year NLL veteran] Brodie Merrill hasn’t got one yet. This is the year we really want to win it for him.

“It’s a tough league to win in. Every game is a new challenge. It’s about winning the next one. A huge part of it in the NLL is having depth and hoping your core gets hot at the right time. Having the right guys. Making sacrifices. Everybody coming together and hitting their stride at the right time.”

Berg has indeed hit his stride and has shown clear improvement each season during his career, with his points totals rising year over year.

In his first NLL season in 2016 with Calgary, Berg made the league’s All-Rookie Team after recording 67 points. His totals would then go up in each of the next two seasons, with 79 points in 2017 and a career-best 86 in 2018.

In 2019 Berg was traded to San Diego, and he led the Seals in scoring with 58 points in 12 games during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

This season Berg is noticeably scoring from both inside and outside, and is making the hard plays look easy. But while the offence might be coming easily, Berg is more worried about playing a complete game.

“I’ve always played this way, getting loose balls and playing a bit of defense,” Berg says. “I was really lucky to grow up in Coquitlam. Growing up playing box, until junior, I was playing both ways. It helped me in college when I got to Denver. I did whatever I could to get playing time.

“It helps me a lot even in San Diego, cutting off transition, off-ball opening things up for yourself or other players. It’s a huge part of being a complete player.”

And while the highlight-reel moments are many, Berg’s focus on playing a complete game has not gone unnoticed by NLL insiders and observers.

“Underrated? I don’t think so. He’s an upper echelon goal-scorer, a legitimate No. 1 go-to guy,” says one former NLL assistant coach closely familiar with Berg. “He’s as advertised. He does the extra stuff that you don’t see often from O guys.”

Says another former NLL assistant coach and GM who is currently a scout for a Western Conference rival: “He thinks the game well, has a high lacrosse IQ. He’s an all-round offensive player who fits into any role: feeder, picker, scorer. Big, deceptively quick and fast. He’s able to do a lot of things well.”

Berg’s game has benefited from a long relationship with lacrosse equipment manufacturer, Warrior. Berg has used Warrior sticks and equipment since his minor and junior days in Coquitlam, then at college in Denver. The partnership has continued into Berg’s pro career.

“It’s been pretty awesome,” says Berg. “It’s a great organization. It’s been a pretty cool journey I’ve had over the years. I used Warrior equipment growing up, and we were sponsored by Warrior in Denver; it was the same stick I’d been using.

“Right now, I’m using the Evo QX offensive head and Fatboy shaft made of composite. It can take some damage but not too heavy. Warrior has the best gloves and elbow pads out there; I switch back and forth between Evo and Burn. And New Balance is one of the only companies who make shoes that fit my wide feet.”

Berg had a research and development job at Warrior headquarters in Detroit after graduating from Denver.

“It was a dream job out of college with them doing stuff I’m passionate about, like how to make equipment better,” Berg says. “I worked on composite shafts and the Warp [head] project, which was really challenging and interesting. I also got to work with Zach Currier, and play with him too in Calgary.”

Now as Warrior, founded in 1992, readies to celebrate its 30-year anniversary the relationship has evolved into one where Berg does promotional work like representing the brand in Southern California.

“In San Diego, it’s more endorsement stuff,” says Berg. “We were shooting something recently for their 30th anniversary.”

Ah yes, the life of a pro lacrosse star in sunny SoCal: Shooting commercials and practising among the palm trees at the league’s only outdoor practice facility, Knockaround Field, while chasing an NLL championship.

“We’re pretty lucky out there when it’s January and February,” Berg says of the warm winters on the outside turf. “We’re pretty fortunate.”

And fortunately for emerging superstar Berg and his title-contending Seals, sometimes you create your own luck when it turns to spring and the postseason nears.

Wes Berg and the San Diego Seals host the 6-4 Colorado Mammoth, second place in the West, at Pechanga Arena on Saturday night (10pm ET on ESPN+/TSN).

NLL