The Calgary Roughnecks have finally broken into the win column for the 2026 National Lacrosse League season, and they did it in impressive fashion. On Saturday, January 3, 2026, the team secured a 15-11 road victory over the talented San Diego Seals, lifting their record to 1-3 and avoiding a potentially devastating 0-4 start.
A Crucial Bounce-Back Performance
This win carried significant weight, coming just six days after a disappointing 13-7 home-opening loss to the Buffalo Bandits. Head coach Josh Sanderson hailed the response from his squad, emphasizing the importance of the result against a well-coached rival on their home floor. "It was huge," Sanderson stated. "Just so proud of the guys the way they bounced back from last weekend. Everybody was ready to play, everybody was ready to compete."
The victory was a complete reversal of fortunes. The Roughnecks stormed out of the gate, scoring five of the game's first six goals. By halftime, they had already matched their total offensive output from the entire previous game, holding leads of 4-1 after the first quarter and 7-4 at the break.
Stars Shine and Team Effort Prevails
Attack leader Tyler Pace was instrumental in the win, contributing two goals and seven total points. He echoed his coach's sentiment, calling the effort "insane" and praising the all-around contributions. "From start to finish, everybody was making plays all over the floor," Pace said. "It was a good win for us."
Coach Sanderson pointed to a collective willingness to do the little things as the foundation for success. "Guys were willing to do everything, and that's why we got the win," he explained, listing key efforts like defensive shifts, loose ball battles, and physical play.
Setting a New Standard for the Season
Beyond just securing the first win, the performance against the Seals established a blueprint for the Roughnecks moving forward. Sanderson described the game as "a perfect example of how we've got to play." For a young roster, avoiding an 0-4 hole was critical for maintaining confidence and keeping playoff hopes alive early in the campaign.
The team now looks to build on this momentum, having hopefully left their rough start firmly in the rearview mirror. The character shown in this bounce-back road win against a top opponent provides a solid foundation for the rest of the 2026 NLL season.
