CHULA VISTA, Jan. 17, 2002 -- For anyone trying to pick through the top 25 players among this season’s Metro Conference roller hockey teams, finding the top three was easy: they were engaged in heated battle on the court Jan. 17 at Skate San Diego in National City as Rick and Dan Comrie led the once-beaten Scripps Ranch Falcons to a 7-5 non-league victory against Nathan Sigmund’s La Jolla Country Day Torres.

The collection of high profile talent on the floor did not disappoint.

Rick Comrie led Scripps Ranch (11-1-1) with three goals and two assists while younger brother Dan added two goals and two assists. The two high profile brothers had a hand in five of the seven Falcon goals. Dan set up two of Rick’s goals and Rick returned the favor on Dan’s two goals to close out scoring in the game for the Falcons.

Sigmund was involved in all five LJCD goals with three goals and two assists.

The Torres (8-4-0) had handed Scripps Ranch its only loss in 13 games this season and was looking to do the same in the second-round rematch. After recovering from an early 3-0 deficit, LJCD narrowed the score to a single goal on three occasions but couldn’t quite maintain the momentum to inch past the high-flying Falcons.

“It was a good game. You get about four of these a year,” noted Scripps Ranch coach Greg Friedman. “We owed ’em one. They seem to play well against us.”

If the Torres had any ideas of posting another “upset” win, it was apparent they would be called on to produce another heroic comeback after the Falcons scored on their first and third shots of the game to grab a quick 2-0 lead. In dealing Scripps Ranch the early season loss, LJCD had stormed back from a 5-1 deficit. But the Falcons were much more on guard this time.

Rick Comrie beat Torres goaltender Ben Bartlett for a 1-0 lead, assisted by Dan Comrie, and Andrew Berrier soon made it 2-0. The Falcon lead mushroomed to three goals with five minutes to play in the opening period when sophomore Jennings Brieck scored off a pass from Cameron Cerone.

The Torres finally got on the scoreboard against Scripps Ranch sophomore ’tender Colin Beam with 10 seconds to play in the first period when Sigmund notched the first of what would be his three goals in the game. Max Guise set up Sigmund for the 3-1 goal.

But momentum proved elusive all game long for LJCD as the Falcons promptly christened the second period with a goal to jump ahead 4-1. This time, Brieck set up Rick Comrie.

But the Torres struck when they had the opportunity, converting on two of their three shots in the period to narrow the score to 3-2. Chris Bartlett, set up by Sigmund, made it 4-2. LJCD then scored an emotionally uplifting goal with just two seconds remaining in the period as Frankie Warren swooped in to beat Beam on a pass from Sigmund.

But again, Scripps Ranch dug just a bit deeper to notch the jump goal just 20 seconds into the final period for a 5-3 lead. Rick Comrie scored with the assist to Dan Comrie. However, Sigmund continued to prove to be the Falcons’ No. 1 pest by scoring a breakaway goal to get the Torres right back into the contest at 5-4.

Heading into crunch time in the game, LJCD was the first team to crack as the Falcons intercepted a pass back at the top of the Torres’ attacking zone and Dan Comrie scored on the ensuing breakaway for a 6-4 advantage.

But Sigmund, who stayed on the floor for most of the game’s 45 minutes, positioned a slap shot over the shoulder of Beam to bring the Torres back to within a goal on the scoreboard once again at 6-5 with 7:35 to play.

But the Comries proved too much to handle as Dan scored his second goal of the game, assisted by Rick, with 6:02 left on the clock to boost Scripps Ranch to another two-goal lead. Both Bartlett and Beam hunkered down in their respective nets to prevent any more scoring. A LJCD penalty effectively sealed the win for the Falcons in the game’s dying minutes.

The Torres remained respectful in defeat. "Both teams played their hearts out, hats off to Scripps this time," said LJCD's Warren. 

Bartlett played well the final two periods after allowing three goals in the first stanza. He finished with eight saves while allowing seven goals. Beam had six saves while allowing five goals. Scripps Ranch outshot LJCD 15-11 for the contest with the Falcons limited to five shots in each period and the Torres managing four shots in both the opening and closing frames.