Christopher Crane, NLL Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Featured Image Photo Credit: Spencer Kagan
To close out this weekend’s NLL action the Buffalo Bandits (5-0) would travel to the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum to take on the New York Riptide (1-5) in front of a crowd of 4,051. This matchup between the two Eastern Division opponents would be a “Battle of the Half’s”. The Bandits would end up controlling the first half but the tide would turn in the second half in favor of the Riptide which would end up with both teams locked at 17-17 at the end of regulation to send the contest into overtime. But it would be the Bandits Chris Cloutier (1g, 1a) finding the back of the net at the 1:11 mark of the overtime period to give the Bandits the victory. Final OT Score: Bandits 18—Riptide 17.
First period scoring would go back forth until the Bandits would go on a three goal run at the 11:56 mark of the period before the Riptide would finally tally a score of their own at the 14:30 mark making it a 6-4 contest. However the Bandits would net one more in the final seconds to increase their lead by three. Tallying scores for the Bandits in the period would be Tehoka Nanticoke (4g, 2a) who would tally two of his four scores of the night; Nick Weiss (1g); Josh Byrne (3g, 2a); Kevin Brownell (1g, 1a); and Chase Fraser (2g, 2a). Tallying scores for the Riptide in the first would come from the likes of Jake Fox (3g, 1a); Larson Sundown (3g, 3a); Kieran McArdle (2g, 1a) and Jeff Teat (3g, 7a). Score at the end of one: Bandits 7—Riptide 3.
Scoring would slow in the second but it would still be the Bandits coming out on top outscoring the Riptide 3-2 heading into the half with a four goal lead. Netting scores for the Bandits in the frame would be Dhane Smith (2g, 9a) getting his first of two on the night with teammate Byrne netting his second; and Connor Fields (3g, 3a) netting the Bandits third score of the period. Scoring the Riptides two tallies were McArdle for his second; and teammate Callum Crawford (3g, 8a) tallying the second. Score at the end of two: Bandits 10—Riptide 6.
The third is where the Riptide would turn the tide on the Bandits and they were able to outscore Buffalo 5-4 but would still end the frame on the short end of the scoreboard. Netting scores for the Bandits in the third were Nanticoke tallying two; and teammates Smith and Fields each notching one goal apiece. New York would get their scores from the hands of Tyson Gibson (1g, 1a); Teat; Crawford; Fox; and Sundown. Score at the end of three: Bandits 14—Riptide 11.
The Riptide would outscore the Bandits in the fourth 6-3, including New York starting the period on a six goal run over the first 7:52 with two power-play markers to take a three goal lead 17-14. However, the Bandits weren’t going to go away quietly and would tally off the final three scores of the frame in the last three minutes to tie it up at the end of regulation to send it to overtime. New York’s six goal run would come from the likes of Fox; Crawford; Jay Thorimbert (1g); Sundown; Kearnan; and Teat. Netting the crucial three goals for the Bandits to tie it up were Fraser; Fields and Byrne with the ever important tying goal at the 14:38 mark. Score at the end of regulation: Bandits 17—Riptide 17.
Overtime period action took just over a minute of play before Cloutier of the Bandits would beat the Riptides net-minder to give the Bandits an 18-17 victory, keeping them at 5-0, the only undefeated team on the season and in first place in the Eastern Division.
With the loss the Riptide drop to 1-5 and now sit in eighth place in the East.
TEAM STATS:
Buffalo Bandits—SOG 57; Saves 32; Face-offs 15-37; Assists 24; LB 71; PP 3-6
New York Riptide—SOG 49; Saves 39; Face-offs 22-37; Assists 28; LB 71; PP 6-10
NEXT UP:
The Buffalo Bandits (5-0) will host the Rochester Knighthawks (2-3) at Keybank Center on Saturday February 5, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. EST. This will be the second meeting of the two teams this season as the last time they played on December 11 2021 on the Knighthawks home turf the Bandits came out the victors 12-8 so Rochester will want revenge and will definitely want to break their three game losing streak in the process. Fans in the USA can watch the action on ESPN+. Fans in Canada can catch the game on TSN.ca or the TSN app.
The New York Riptide (1-5) will head to Halifax on Friday February 4, 2022 to face the Thunderbirds (3-1) who will be playing their next two home games at First Ontario Centre in Hamilton, Ontario. Game time 8:00 p.m. EST. Fans in the USA can watch the action on ESPN+. Fans in Canada can catch the game on TSN.ca or the TSN app.
Christopher Crane, NLL Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©