Di Miller, Correspondent New York Riptide
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Featured Image Courtesy of National League Lacrosse
The newest expansion teams in the NLL, the Halifax Thunderbirds (1-0) would play host to the New York Riptide (0-1) for each of their opening and inaugural nights into the National League. This is the first professional lacrosse game ever played in Halifax, Nova Scotia and for the 6,847 Thunderbirds fans at Scotiabank Centre; their team would not disappoint jumping out to a 7-0 lead in the first with multiple historical milestones throughout the night. The pregame show was spectacular as well so this night will be one to remember for everyone who was in attendance. Final Score: Halifax 12—New York 4.
Halifax would win the opening face-off and Jake Withers (1g) would score the first goal in team history only 10 seconds in as he’d pick up his own loosie and score over the right shoulder top corner past Alex Buque. The Thunderbirds would go onto score six unanswered goals, the next from Austin Shanks (2g, 1a) when he picked off the long pass by Buque, headed back down the field and fired the shot low putting them up 2-0 at the 2:33 mark. About five minutes would tick off, and Ryan Benesch would send the one-handed pass to Eric Fannell (2g, 1a) with the long distance shot he’d hit far side low at 7:41. It took a little over a minute before Benesch (1g, 2a) would notch his own; he’d get the one-handed dish from Cody Jamieson from behind the net, Benesch was set up on the doorstep, gave a couple of pump fakes and dunked it past Buque putting them up 4-0 when the clock hit 8:54 into the frame. Halifax would go on their first man-up on the roughing penalty on Brooker Muir at the 11:04 mark and it took only 24 seconds for them to capitalize. Jamieson would feed the ball to Mike Burke (1g, 1a) for the perfect bounce shot 5-0 Thunderbirds. They’d put up another two before the buzzer sounded. Brad Gillies (1g, 1a) picked up the loosie on the break and caught the Riptide making the line change, and hit far side in traffic 6-0 Halifax with 2:39 left in the frame. With 1:15 remaining, Austin Shanks (2g, 1a) would get his first of two on the night with three seconds left on the shot clock he fired it top corner far side putting them up 7-0. The Thunderbirds dominated in the quarter with Withers perfect on draws; they led 17-5 in shots on goal; and were 21-12 in loose balls. Score at the end of one: Thunderbirds 7—Riptide 0.
In the second, the scoring slowed down and the Riptide started to gain some momentum; Buque was feeling a bit more comfortable in between the pipes, but they still couldn’t gain enough of a spark to put up more than two goals. Although they were also able to hold the Thunderbirds to the same. The first of the frame was another on the run for Halifax. This one from Kyle Jackson (1g, 2a) and what many would consider to be the “highlight” goal of the game. Only 35 seconds into the quarter, Buque came out of the net to make the play; Jackson grabbed the loose ball and was able to come around from the back of the cage with a wrap-around shot hit far side for a highlight reel goal and an 8-0 score in favor of the home team. The next historic goal came at the 2:59 mark when Tyson Gibson (1g, 1a), the first overall pick for the New York Riptide would score the first goal in team history scooping his own rebound; diving through the crease to score on Warren Hill getting them on the board. Again, another five minutes came off the timer before another point would go on the board. At the 7:26 mark Fannell would get his second of the game for the Thunderbirds; he’d find some room and use the screen and fire it far side low once again increasing the gap by eight. The scoring drought would continue while the net-minders held tough. Then with 49.2 seconds left, the Riptide’s Tyler Digby with the dish to Connor Kelly (1g) would bounce it past Hill on the near side to give them another before the half. Halifax would still lead at the face-off dot 12-13; shots on goal 29-16; loose balls 43-32. Score at the end of the half: Thunderbirds 9—Riptide 2.
The third was a goalie clinic as each net-minder—Warren Hill for the Thunderbirds; and Alex Buque for the Riptide would between the two stop 33 shots on goal…Hill with 19; and Buque with 13. The lone goal in the third came with .7 seconds left and it would go to the Riptide. Gibson made his way down the middle lane drawing Hill to make the slide; he passed to Dan Lomas (2g) on the far side and with the quick stick he fired on the open cage near side giving them their third on the night. The Riptide won the frame in both categories: SOG 20-13; and LB 24-15; in addition to scoring the only goal. Score at the end of three: Thunderbirds 9—Riptide 3.
New York would win their second draw of the contest to begin the fourth but this one was slow to start as Buque had found his niche’ and Hill was continuing to play strong with that powerful left leg kick save he’s known for. Cory Becker (1g) would score his first career NLL goal in transition off the give and go glove side low at the 7:34 mark 10-3 Thunderbirds. Lomas would score a minute later at 8:35 with a “Superman” goal. He set up behind the net and dove from behind to tuck it in top corner for the final goal for the Riptide on the night 10-4. Stephen Keogh would put up the final two for Halifax. The first with 5:21 left in the game as it trickled in between the five-hole on Buque; and the second with 2:36 left on a bad angle shot inside the near pipe. Final Score: Thunderbirds 12—Riptide 4.
If not for the first quarter, this game would have been much closer. It took a while for Buque to get his legs in between the pipes. The second quarter the Riptide started to get in sync; and the third they completely dominated the Thunderbirds. But it was evident that the Thunderbirds with the majority of their players having played together; and the Riptide a true expansion team with this being their first regular season game they are seeing growing pains.
The Thunderbirds completely dominated at the face-off dot with Jake Withers winning 16 of the 18 draws he took. The Riptide will need to figure out quickly what they can do to overcome the deficit in that category.
GAME STATS:
Halifax: 58 SOG; 20 SOFF; 75 LB; 17-19 FO; 1-4 PP
New York: 44 SOG; 19 SOFF; 69 LB; 2-19 FO; 1-3 PP
NET MINDER STATS:
Halifax—Warren Hill: 44 SOG; 40 Saves; 4 GA; .909 Sv%
New York—Alex Buque: 58 SOG; 46 Saves; 12 GA; .793 Sv%
NEXT UP:
The Halifax Thunderbirds (1-0) will host the Rochester Knighthawks (1-0) on Saturday December 21 at 7:00 p.m. two weeks from now on December 21, game time 6:00 p.m. EST.
The New York Riptide (0-1) will head west to Vancouver to face the Warriors (0-1) when both teams will look for their first win of the season on Saturday, December 14, game time 10:00 p.m. EST.
Di Miller, Correspondent New York Riptide
Lacrosse is Awesome©