The New York Riptide hosted the Philadelphia Wings at NYCB Live on Saturday night in a Week 15 matchup. The Wings won both ends of a doubleheader last weekend, including a win over the Riptide in Philadelphia. Meanwhile, the Riptide had lost three straight and five of their last six to fall to the bottom of the East Division. In an attempt to shake things up, the Riptide elected to give Cameron Dunkerley his second career start in net. The move paid off, as Dunkerley made 48 saves in a 13-10 win.
Riptide get first half lead as Wings struggle to solve Dunkerley
New York opened the game with four different players finding the back of the net. Reilly O’Connor (6:44) kicked things off. Shortly after that, the Wings, who are the least penalized team in the league, had a rare stretch of undisciplined play. The Riptide took advantage of it, with Connor Kearnan (8:41) and Larson Sundown (10:53) getting power play markers. Dan Lomas (13:00) made it 4-0 Riptide before Joe Resetarits (13:23) finally broke the run and got the Wings on the board.
Mitch Jones (3:38) halved the deficit, but the Riptide responded with a three-goal run featuring three new scorers. Tyler Digby (4:26), Mike Burke (8:35), and Jeff Teat (9:45 power play) put New York up 7-2. The second goal from Jones on a power play (11:25) and a goal from Blaze Riorden 27 seconds later narrowed the margin to 7-4 going into halftime.
Wings rally but Riptide hold on for series split
Ben McIntosh (3:33 power play) and Taite Cattoni (4:15) continued the Wings run, pulling to within one, 7-6. Teat’s second (6:45) pushed the lead back to two. The second from Resetarits (9:09 power play) was countered by Jack Kelly (11:45), and New York held a 9-7 lead after three quarters of play.
The Riptide tacked on three more to blow the game open again in the final frame. O’Connor’s second (0:55), Scott Dominey (2:30), and the hat trick goal from O’Connor (6:22 power play) made it 12-7. Philadelphia answered with a three goal run of their own. Jones’s hat trick goal (8:55), McIntosh’s second (9:07), and the fourth of the night from Jones (11:44) closed the gap to 12-10. However, Teat notched his hat trick (12:51) and shut the door on a Wings comeback.
The Riptide improve to 3-9 with the win, climbing out of the East Division basement. They host the last-place Albany FireWolves next Saturday. Philadelphia drops to 5-6, but remains a half-game ahead of Halifax (5-7) for the fourth and final playoff spot in the East Division. They host the Georgia Swarm next Saturday.
Other Stats of Note
For the second time this season, Trevor Baptiste was perfect at the faceoff dot, winning all 27 draws. Baptiste also led all players with 26 Loose Balls.
Power Play: PHI 3 for 5; NY 4 for 4
Ron John (NY): 3 Caused Turnovers
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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.
