Di Miller, Correspondent New York Riptide
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Featured Image Photo Credit: New York Riptide
On Saturday January 18, the New York Riptide (1-5) would face their North Division rivals the Georgia Swarm (2-3) for the first time this season in the hopes that they would finally break that ever present “Goose Egg” on the standings board. On the other side of the score sheet, the Swarm were hoping to break their two-game losing streak. So each team had something to prove heading into last night’s contest and everyone knew it was going to be an exciting game. The teams did not disappoint the 2,251 Riptide fans who braved the weather and saw their team win a nail-biter in OT. Final Score OT: New York 13—Georgia 12.
The game got off to a snail’s pace start with the visitors starting it off 11:43 into the first frame with Jordan Hall (2g, 3a) and Randy Staats teaming up to get the Swarm on the board. It took only nine seconds for the Riptide to answer back on the ensuing face-off with Scott Johnston (1g) scoring his first goal in his first game as a Riptide tying it at one apiece. Kieran McArdle (3g) would notch the go ahead goal finding the back of the net with 20 seconds left in the quarter. Score at the end of one: New York 2—Georgia 1.
McArdle would open up the scoring in the second 4:51 in giving the home team a 3-1 lead and some much needed excitement for the fans. But less than three minutes later the Swarm would hit back with a four-goal run and keep the ‘Tide out of the net for the remaining eight minutes. Zach Miller (2g, 1a) who had just come off the IR got the run started for the Swarm at the 7:17 mark; and was followed by another from Hall (a power-play tally); Lyle Thompson (4g); and Miller would close it out with 52 seconds left. The Swarm had turned it around and now held a 5-3 lead heading into the locker room.
Georgia took that momentum into the third and rattled off three more which started off with a true hat-trick from Shayne Jackson (3g, 3a) notched at 4:53 (a power-play tally); 6:46; and 8:42 before Tyson Gibson (2g, 2a) halted their barrage at the 9:43 mark in the frame. Gibson notched another 90 seconds later with a power-play tally, but the 8-5 lead was short lived as the Swarm hit back when Zed Williams (1g) hit twine with one second left on the ticker. Score at the end of three: Georgia 9—New York 5.
After a combined total of 14 goals in the first three, the teams would put up 10 total in the fourth. New York got it going quickly with Jean-Luc Chetner (1g, 2) hitting twine at the 22 second mark closing the gap 9-6. It took a little over four minutes for the Swarm to increase it back to four with another from (L) Thompson at the 4:30 mark before the Riptide would go on a five-goal run. McArdle would notch his hat-trick; Dan Lomas (3g, 2a) would put up a hat-trick of his own; and Cody Radziewicz (1g, 2a) got in on the action as well. In the span of six minutes New York had taken the lead 11-10 with 4:06 remaining on the clock. Unfortunately, less than two minutes later (L) Thompson would find the back of the net twice in 20 seconds and the Swarm would take the lead 12-11 with 2:03 left on the ticker. New York Bench Boss Regy Thorpe made the decision to go with the extra attacker and it paid off. Gale Thorpe would notch the equalizer with 1.7 left on the clock sending the game into OT. Score at the end of regulation: New York 12—Georgia 12.
The teams headed into Sudden Death Overtime and after a couple changes in possession, Dan MacRae (1g) gained possession and would make history scoring the game winning goal at the 2:10 mark in OT. Final Score OT: New York 13—Georgia 12.
TEAM STATS:
Georgia: 49 SOG; 15 SOFF; 78 LB; 8-28 FO; 2-3 PP
New York; 47 SOG; 25 SOFF; 83 LB; 20-28 FO: 1-4 PP
NET-MINDER STATS:
Georgia—Mike Poulin: 47 SOG; 35 Saves; 13 GA; .745 Sv%
New York—Alex Buque: 49 SOF; 37 Saves; 12 GA; .755 Sv%
NEXT UP:
The New York Riptide (1-5) will head to Philadelphia to face the Wings (3-2) on Friday January 24, game time 7:00 p.m. EST. The Riptide are coming off a high and the Wings are coming off a loss to the Black Wolves. This game will be another exciting contest with New York having tasted victory; and Philadelphia seeking vengeance for their recent loss.
The Georgia Swarm (2-3) will head to New England to face the undefeated Black Wolves (4-0) on Sunday January 26, game time 1:00 p.m. EST. Georgia wants to break that three-game slide and New England wants to remain undefeated. So look for an aggressive hard hitting game.
Di Miller, Correspondent New York Riptide
Lacrosse is Awesome©