Di Miller, NLL Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Featured Image Photo Credit: Philadelphia Wings
The New York Riptide (1-4) headed to the Wells Fargo Center on Sunday January 29, 2022 to face their Eastern Division Rivals the Philadelphia Wings (4-3) for the second meeting of the two teams this season. The last time these two teams met on December 10, 2021 the Wings would be the victors by the score on 14-12. The 6,206 Wings fans that were in the arena to see their team for the second time in as many nights were hoping for back-to-back wins, but the Riptide had other ideas. The team has an enormous amount of talent but has been unable to put that talent together for a second victory in their franchise history until today.
Coming into today’s contest, Kevin Crowley for Philadelphia was the league leader in points with 34 and assists with 23; with Matt Rambo coming in third in points with 29. Zach Higgins their starting net minder was sitting second in the league in saves with 181. So New York had their work cut out for them. But with the Wings coming off a high scoring contest the night before, having scored 13 goals in the second half against Rochester, it took its toll. During the game, we would see six ties; and five lead changes before it was all over. Final Score: Riptide 13—Wings 12.
The Riptide would win the opening draw and both defenses would get off to a great start. Fans would see a track meet between the two teams for the first 6:19 while each net-minder stood tall between the pipes making some stellar saves. But it would be New York who would draw first blood. Jeff Teat would send a one handed flip toss to Connor Kearnan (4g, 1a) out in front and with the quick catch and shoot, the Riptide were on the board 1-0. The Wings would go man-up with 7:58 left off a holding penalty and Mackenzie Mitchell (1g) would scoop the loosie, head down the floor on the one-on-two breakaway and with some shakin’ and bakin’ beat Zach Higgins on the left hand side for a short-handed goal putting them up 2-0 only five seconds later. With 1:16 on the power-play, Kevin Crowley (1g, 4a) would stop the momentum with a sniper shot power play tally through traffic top corner getting the Wings on the board with 7:23 on the clock 2-1 Riptide. It took only 12 seconds before we were all tied up. Blaze Riorden (1g, 1a) found an opening out in front and put it home stick side under the glove of Steven Orleman for the equalizer at 7:11 and we were knotted at 2’s. The Wings would once again go man-up with 4:40 left in the frame. Only 10 seconds into the power-play, Brett Hickey (2g, 3a) saw a little bit of the net, caught Orleman leaning and fired it far side to take the lead 3-2 with 4:30 left on the ticker. Less than 50 seconds later, the Riptide would tie it up again. Tyson Gibson (2g, 2a) would get a nice feed from Kieran McArdle and stuck it top corner for the equalizer 3-3 with 3:43 remaining. The Wings would pull Higgins on the delayed penalty with 2:46 remaining and would go on yet another man-up in the first. Cory Vitarelli (3g, 2a) standing at GLE (goal line extended) with the sharp angle quick stick shot fired it in near side for yet another go ahead goal 4-3 Wings with 2:30 in the first. But New York wasn’t done yet. With 16.1 seconds left, Callum Crawford (2g, 1a) from way out, would set his feet and fire one from the outside and put one in under the left hand of Higgins for the final goal in the first. Shots in the first: Riptide 11—Wings 21; Saves: Riptide 17—Wings 7; FO Riptide 2-9 Wings 7-9. Score at the end of one: Riptide 4—Wings 4.
We’d see equal scoring in the second with each team putting up four goals apiece. Once again it would be the Riptide getting on the board first. Damon Edwards in transition would fire one over the shoulder of his defender to beat Higgins five-hole 1:21 in for his first goal of the season 5-4 Riptide. New York would go with the extra-attacker on the delayed penalty and their first man-up in the game at the 1:55 mark in the second. With the catch, fake to the left, pass to the right then to Kearnan with the twister shot on the doorstep, he’d fire one in at the 2:22 mark for the first Riptide power-play tally in the contest and they were up by two 6-4. It took a little over two minutes before we’d see another point go up on the board. This time it would be Philadelphia. Corey Small (3g, 3a) would set up on the left side and with a side arm shot, fire it low left hand corner at 5:24 closing the gap 6-5 Riptide. With this goal, Small was only two points away from 700 on his career. Hickey would tie it up off the bench and beat Orleman with some great ball movement, hitting five-hole to tie it up 6-6 at the 7:03 mark. The Wings would take the lead on their three-goal run off a cross field pass from Matt Rambo to a cutting Kiel Matisz (1g) and he’d fire an over the top shot over the shoulder with 7:25 remaining 7-6 Wings. Philadelphia would go on yet another man-up with Hickey and a head fake skip pass to Small who would put it home with a sniper shot getting Orleman to go high, firing low for the power-play tally 5:20 remaining 8-6 Wings. This would also be Small’s 700th career point as well. But the Riptide weren’t done yet. Jeff Teat would come across the floor and Gibson with the back hand flip to Teat (1g, 6a) , he’d flash in front of the crease and bury it past Higgins low 8-7 with 3:50 on the ticker. With 1:30 on the clock, New York would go on a man-up and with 1:09 left the Wings would get hit with another penalty so the Riptide would be on a 5 on 3 for the remainder of the quarter. Only 6.4 seconds on the clock and Dan MacRae with the interception would send the pass to Kearnan who was sitting on the other end of the floor, he’d catch fake and finish on the doorstep to tie it up. Shots in the second: Riptide 15—Wings 19; Saves: Riptide 15—Wings 9; FO Riptide 4-9 Wings 5-9. Score at the end of two: Riptide 8—Wings 8.
Heading into the third, the Riptide were still on a 5 on 4, and only eight seconds in, the Wings would be hit with another penalty putting New York on another 5 on 3. Larson Sundown (2g) with extra pressure would come down the middle and a nice face dodge, fake left, fake left, he’d bury it near side for the power-play marker 42 seconds in 9-8 Riptide. The Wings would tie it up off a transition goal from Anthony Joaquim (1g) when he pushed it down the floor and fired a laser on the run hitting top corner at 3:35 and we were all tied up again 9-9. Philadelphia would go man-up once again at the 6:36 mark. Orleman would make a beautiful save and with his stick on the ball in the crease, Ben McIntosh would scoop the ball from under the stick of Orleman and fire it over his shoulder for what would have been another go ahead goal. However, Orleman pointed out to the ref that his stick was down and so the goal was reviewed. It was overturned and the ref announce that the “goalie had possession and the call on the floor is overturned…NO GOAL”. For the remainder of the man-up the Riptide were able to keep the Wings out the net giving them their first successful penalty kill of the game. This definitely fired up New York as they would hold the Wings to no further goals in the third. Sundown would score his second on the afternoon with some great effort, he found a shooting lane and with a beautiful face dodge around his defender, he fired it over the shoulder near side 10-9 Riptide with 2:07 left in the third. On another delayed penalty, the Riptide would go with the extra-attacker with 45.7 seconds left in the frame and 12 seconds into the man-up Callum Crawford (2g, 1a) on the give and go, would throw a couple of pump fakes, fired it far side heat for the two goal lead with 34 seconds left in the third. Shots in the third: Riptide 16—Wings 12; Saves: Riptide 11—Wings 13; FO Riptide 1-5 Wings 4-5. Score at the end of three: Riptide 11—Wings 9.
Philadelphia would finally get on the board first in the fourth. At the 1:59 mark, with a fake, fake, fake, Vitarelli would get Orleman standing and banked it low far corner 11-10 Riptide. It took almost seven minutes before either team would score as the net-minders on either end held strong making some amazing saves. It would be the Riptide who would break the scoring drought at the 8:04 mark. Gibson fired one over the top that made it way through the legs of Higgins before the fisticuffs started increasing their lead 12-10. Once again the Wings would go on another man-up with 6:56 remaining and at the 5:41 mark, Small would notch his hat-trick power-play tally off the no look pass from Crowley, he’d fake high, fake high and shoot low on the outside 12-11 Riptide. The teams would exchange goals for the remainder of the frame. Kearnan with the wrap around attempt faked high and got Higgins to drop to his knees then fired it up top with 2:48 remaining 13-11 Riptide. The Wings would go once more with the extra-attacker with 1:13 on the ticker and it worked. Hickey sent the cross crease pass to Vitarelli who was standing on GLE and with the quick stick release he fired it in short side 13-12 with 1:03 remaining. New York would win the ensuing face off and called the timeout with 39.3 seconds remaining on the clock. They’d get one shot off and the Wings would regain possession with 14 seconds remaining and called a timeout of their own. Unfortunately they lost possession of the ball on the Riptide end of the floor and couldn’t regain the loosie before the ticker ran out giving the Riptide their first victory in the 2021-22 season. Final Score: Riptide 13—Wings 12.
GAME STATS:
New York Riptide—SOG 55; Saves 56; Face-offs 8-29; Assists 19; LB 55; PP 4-5; PIM 18
Philadelphia Wings—SOG 68; Saves 42; Face-offs 21-20; Assists 19; LB 63; PP 5-7; PIM 14
Stars of the Game:
Steven Orleman-New York Riptide: 12 GA; 56 Saves; 68 SOG; .823 Sv%
Connor Kearnan-New York Riptide: 4G, 1A
Corey Small-Philadelphia Wings: 3G, 3A
NEXT UP:
The New York Riptide (1-4) will play host to the undefeated Buffalo Bandits (4-0) on Saturday January 29, 2022 at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, NY. Game time 7:30 p.m. EST. The Riptide cannot afford to let up. They have been playing strong in every game and they will have an extremely tough game ahead of them next weekend. Fans in the USA can catch the game on ESPN+. Fans in Canada can catch the action on TSN.ca or the TSN app.
The Philadelphia Wings (4-3) will head out on the road to face the Georgia Swarm (2-3) at the Gas South Arena in Duluth, GA on Saturday January 29, 2022. Game time 7:00 p.m. EST. The Swarm are coming off a “W” and want to keep it going and the rivalry between the two teams is well known. The last time the two teams met on Wings home turf on January 8, the Wings defeated the Swarm by the score of 12-11 so Georgia wants revenge. It should be a great game. Fans in the USA can catch the game on ESPN+. Fans in Canada can catch the action on TSN.ca or the TSN app.
Di Miller, NLL Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©