The two newest franchises in the National Lacrosse League met up in the Blue Cross Arena as the New York Riptide (1-11) ventured into Rochester to battle the Knighthawks in what may be a battle for the first overall pick in the entry draft.
Tyson Gibson and Dan Lomas was the story for New York despite the loss.
The inability to play a full sixty minutes doomed the Riptide yet again.
Although they jumped out to an early 2-0 lead when the aforementioned Tyson Gibson (2g,5a) started his “coming out” party with 1:13 played.
Connor Kelly (3a) and Gibson teamed up to help Dan Lomas (6g,2a) start his record-setting night.
It took 1:33 for Dan Michel (2g,1a) to net his two goals to get it evened you at 2-2.
Lomas became playmaker and sent a pass the Gibson deposited to end the first with New York holding a 3-2 edge.
Ryland Rees (1g,1a) got it tied up again and Rochester was getting its groove on.
Gibson and Kelly went to work on the man advantage with Lomas finishing to give the Riptide a lead.
Rochester nailed the final goals of the half courtesy of Holden Cattoni (4g,2a) and Mark Cockerton (2g,2a) to set the stage for a major run in the third and the home team boasting a 5-4 lead.
Following the script, New York fell asleep in the third quarter and was torched by a five-goal in just over four minutes.
Phil Caputo (2g,3a) and Cattoni were the catalysts on a power-play working the ball to Turner Evans (2g) who buried it at the :53 mark.
Doug Utting (1g) added an unassisted goal that was also on the advantage at 2:29.
Just fifty-one seconds later, Caputo bagged his second.
Cockerton buried a transition goal off a play started by Curtis Knight (8a) and Knight would then add the helper on the second goal of the quarter from Turner Evans at the 4:33 mark.
Kieran McArdle (1g,2a) and Gale Thorpe (1g,1a) quelled the rally to get it to a manageable 10-6.
Cattoni added a pair of assists from Knight to get it back to a six-goal lead heading to the final stanza.
Cattoni wasn’t quite finished and neither was Knight and the two teamed up for the fourth Cattoni goal.
Suddenly, New York came to life and waged a serious comeback with Travis Longboat (1g,2a), on the man up, John Wagner (1g) with a shorthanded marker.
It then became the Dan Lomas show as he rattled off four goals in just seven minutes that gives Lomas the team record for points in a game
Rylan Hartley, who was outstanding all night, slammed the door and Rochester held on to the 13-12 win.
Dis and Dat:
Shots on Goal favored New York, 61-48 with New York also scooping more loose balls, 80-72.
Rochester went 2 of 4 on the advantage while the Riptide posted 2 of 3.
Alex Woodall was dominating for New York going 22 of 29 from the “X”.
Another rough out for Alex Buque who logged 52:13 allowing 10 goals on 39 shots.
Gowah Abrams spelled Buque and surrendered 3 goals off 9 shots.
A Star is Born? Rylan Hartley was outstanding in winning his first NLL game. The rookie faced 61 shots and stopped 49.
Kevin has followed and promoted the game of lacrosse since May 19, 1974.
The same day the Philadelphia Flyers won the Cup, the Philadelphia Wings were introduced to Neibauer and Philadelphia.
Kevin has covered many sports, including baseball, football, basketball, and.. lacrosse. A former licensed football referee and baseball umpire, Kevin brings a unique insight to his game coverage.
A published writer in JustHockey Magazine, Kevin covered the American Hockey League as well as a monthly story on a pugilist where Kevin used the pen name, The Rink Rat. Neibauer turned his attentions to lacrosse for a few years and does his part, whether podcasting or writing to grow the game. Kevin branched out to his roots and currently provides insight for all Philadelphia teams for Edge of Philly as well as his full-time duties with LaxPhilly.
