The Buffalo Bandits traveled to NYCB Live to play the New York Riptide in a Saturday night Week 9 tilt. Buffalo was on the back end of a double-away doubleheader, having won in Philadelphia the night before. Meanwhile, the Riptide sought to extend their win streak to two and climb back into contention in the East Division standings. However, Buffalo got a plethora of offense from an unlikely trio of players. Ian MacKay, Brandon Robinson, and Matt Spanger combined for 9 goals in a 16-10 victory. With the win, Buffalo goes 2-0 on the weekend, and improves to 6-2 overall. New York drops to 1-5 with the loss.
Buffalo weathers penalties, Riptide runs
The Riptide quickly jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Brent Noseworthy (3:14) scored in transition, then Larson Sundown (2g, 1a; 4:50) dunked one on a power play. Dhane Smith (4g, 7a; 6:08) got the Bandits on the board with a power-play goal. On the ensuing faceoff, Steve Priolo was whistled for a double-minor penalty, but continued to argue with officials, earning him a 10-minute game misconduct penalty. Jeff Teat (3g, 4a; 12:12) briefly restored the two-goal lead for New York before Ian MacKay (4g, 2a; 13:29) answered for Buffalo. After one quarter, the Riptide held a 3-2 lead.
The second quarter began with the Bandits netting four of the next five goals. Tehoka Nanticoke (2g, 3a; 1:28) and Nick Weiss (1:47) gave Buffalo their first lead, 4-3. Connor Kearnan (1g, 4a; 4:31) equalized for the Riptide, but MacKay’s second (5:01) and Smith’s second (6:15) gave the Bandits a 6-4 lead. Reilly O’Connor (1g, 4a; 7:57) and Teat’s second (11:04) tied the game at 6-6. Brandon Robinson (3g, 4a; 13:05) and Sundown (14:04) then traded goals to go into halftime tied at 7-7. Near the end of the half, Bandits forward Josh Byrne appeared to roll his ankle on the turf during a shift; Byrne did not return to the game.
Buffalo pulls away in second half
Robinson went back-to-back (3:51; 4:48) for his hat trick to open the third quarter and give Buffalo a 9-7 lead. Tyler Digby (2g, 2a; 6:42) got one back, but Buffalo tacked on two more. MacKay’s hat trick goal (7:07) and Matt Spanger (2g, 7:50) increased the Bandits’ lead to 11-8. Teat (8:40) would notch his hat trick, but Smith would match it with his own hat trick goal (9:05).
Digby’s second (10:14) again cut the Riptide deficit to two, before Buffalo went on another run. Nanticoke’s second on a power play (11:38) and Spanger’s second (13:38) made it 14-10 going into the final 15 minutes. The Bandits kept the momentum going in the final frame. MacKay’s fourth (0:51; power play) and Smith’s fourth (8:16; power play) closed the scoring, with the Riptide unable to respond.
Other Stats of Note
Faceoffs: BUF 18 of 30; NY 12 of 30
Power Play: BUF 5 of 7; NY 1 of 4
Reilly O’Connor (NY): 12 Loose Balls (led all players)
Matt Vinc (BUF): 42 saves
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“Muffler” Mike Kostiuk was formally introduced to box lacrosse when he attended a New England Black Wolves game on a whim in 2016. Instantly hooked, he has since become an avid follower of the National Lacrosse League. Following the postponement of the 2019-2020 NLL season, he was offered the chance to share his wealth of statistical knowledge and unique insights with the lacrosse community at large. He cheerfully accepted, and currently serves as Edge of Philly’s correspondent for both the Albany FireWolves and New York Riptide.
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