Shawn Palmer, Toronto Rock Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Featured Image Photo Credit: Ryan McCullough
The New York Riptide (0-3) visited the Toronto Rock (3-0) on Saturday afternoon December 30, 2023. The Rock wanted to keep their unbeaten streak alive, and the Riptide were hoping to end their two-game losing streak. The Rock went on a seven-goal run that kept the Riptide off the scoreboard from halfway through the first quarter until halfway through the third quarter lasting 27 minutes. At that time, it was 8 – 1 and they would cruise to a 14 – 8 win sending 9,566 happy Rock fans home with their third win in a row to start the season.
Toronto would open the scoring just over four minutes into the first quarter when Tyler Hendricks (2A) passed to Dan Craig (4G, 2A) and his high to low shot beat Cam Dunkerly (37 saves) to the far side under his arm to make it 1 – 0 for the Rock. Two minutes later the Riptide would answer back. Jeff Teat (3G, 3A) took a pass from Connor Kearnan (1G, 4A) and his shot beat Nick Rose (41 saves) through the legs to tie it at one. The Rock would regain the lead three minutes later when Mark Matthews (3A) passed from behind the net to Josh Dawick (2G, 1A) and his overhand shot went stick side and it was 2 – 1 for the Rock. Toronto would end the scoring in the first with 1:04 on the ticker. Corey Small (3G, 1A) came from behind the net with the shot clock running out, threw it at the net and his bounce shot went far side to make it 3 – 1 for the Rock. The shots on goal at the end of the first quarter were New York 12—Toronto 9.
The Rock would shut out the Riptide in the second. Three minutes into the frame, Mitch de Snoo (1G, 1A) picked off a pass, went up the floor, passed to Dan Lintner (2G, 2A) coming off of the bench, he dove across the crease and beat Dunkerly to the top corner on the short side increasing the Rock lead to 4 – 1. A minute later, while in transition Brandon Slade (2A) passed to Lintner off the bench again, giving him his second goal in a row, this time to the far side making it 5 – 1. The Rock continued to pour it on even while shorthanded. Brad Kri (1A) was on a two on one, passed to Justin Martin (1G) and his shot went short side to end the half with the score Toronto 6—New York 1. The shots on goal were even at 24 each.
It took almost six minutes into the second half for the Rock to continue their scoring. Craig received a pass from Chris Boushy (5A), he spun around his defender and his low shot went short side to make it 7 – 1 for the Rock. Just over a minute later while in transition, Chris Weier (1A) passed to de Snoo, and his sidearm shot beat Dunkerly to the bottom stick side corner, and it was 8 – 1. After 27 minutes of not scoring, the Riptide finally were able to beat Rose and stop the run when they were shorthanded. Kearnan came off the bench, received a pass from Ron John (1A) and his shot beat Rose top corner on the stick side to make it 8 – 2. Toronto would get that one back 2:03 later when Small fired a side arm shot from the outside that found the top corner behind Dunkerly and it was 9 – 2 for the Rock. Stephen Keough (1G, 1A) who was just acquired by the Riptide and now playing against his former team scored a highlight goal when he picked up a rebound in front and with his back to the net, threw a backhand shot through his legs that beat Rose through the five-hole making it 9 – 3. The Rock would answer with Craig scoring his hat trick goal from Hendricks and his side arm shot went top corner and the lead was back to seven, 10 – 3. New York would end the scoring in the third with 19 seconds on the clock Teat went in on the right side and his bounce shot beat Rose to the short side to make it 10 – 4 after three quarters. The shots on goal at this time were Toronto 39—New York 34.
New York would match their total goals from the other frames in the fourth and would open the scoring less than a minute in. While on the power play, Larson Sundown (2G, 1A) received a pass from Kearnan, and he beat Rose with a bounce shot on the short side and it was 10 – 5 still in favor of the Rock. The Riptide would score their third in a row when Reilly O’Connor (1G, 2A) received a pass right on the crease from Teat, threw three fakes and beat Rose over the shoulder to get within four, 10 – 6. The Rock would stop the run when Craig came around his pick and his high-to-high shot beat Dunkerly over the shoulder for his fourth of the game and it was 11 – 6. Just over a minute later Teat notched his hat trick with a low shot that went under Rose’s stick to get them back within four at 11 – 7. Toronto would get that one back three minutes later. Small fired a low side arm that went five-hole to make it 12 – 7 Toronto. Dawick would score his second of the game just 40 seconds later when his side arm shot from the top went stick side and it was 13 – 7. With the goalie pulled for the extra attacker, O’Connor would pass to Sundown who was behind the net, he dove in front beating Rose to the open side to make it 13 – 8. Unfortunately for the Riptide, they went with the extra man for the ensuing faceoff and with the goalie still on the bench, TD Ierlan (1G) won the draw and took it to the net all alone scoring on the open goal just 10 seconds later. The shots on goal at the end of the game were tied at 53 each. Final Score: Toronto 14—New York 8.
The Three Stars of the game were:
Dan Craig – Toronto Rock: 4G, 2A
Jeff Teat – New York Riptide: 3G, 3A
Corey Small – Toronto Rock: 3G, 1A
NEXT UP:
The Toronto Rock (3-0) have a bye-week and will be back in action on Friday January 12, 2024, when they travel to Halifax to face the Thunderbirds (2-1). Game time 6:30 p.m. EST. Fans in the USA can see the game on ESPN+. This is the Game of the Week for fans in Canada and they can see the action on TSN or TSN+
The New York Riptide (0-3) will head to Wells Fargo Center where they will face the Philadelphia Wings (2-2) on Sunday January 7, 2024. Game time 3:00 p.m. EST. Fans in the USA can see the game on ESPN+. Fans in Canada can catch the action on TSN+.
Shawn Palmer, Toronto Rock Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©