Wings Stay in Deep Water to Best Riptide, 15-12

Two teams trying to find themselves met up in Long Island for a Saturday evening set to.

The expansion New York Riptide (0-5) welcomed the Philadelphia Wings (2-1) to the Riptide second home game in their inaugural year.

The teams battled in the opening stanza when Kevin Buchanan (1g) put Philadelphia in front with just :33 played.

Tyler Digby and the number one overall pick in the draft. Tyson Gibson worked magic and set up Jake Fox (1g, 2a) to knot it at 1–1 at the 3:08 mark.

The wide-open offense continued and Digby ( 2g.3a) and Gale Thorpe (1g.1a) put the Riptide in front. 3-1 when each lit the lamp just 5:30 apart.

Matt Rambo ( 1g,5a) stemmed the New York run at 10:29 quickly followed by a Brett Hickey (3g.1a) equalizer just thirteen seconds later.

On a delayed Philadelphia penalty, Dan Lomas (1g,1a) pushed a set up from Thorpe and Connor Kelly (2a) behind Philly netminder, Zach Higgins to put New York up, 4-3 with 4:45 remaining in the period.

Josh Currier (3g, 1a)notched a man advantage goal to level the score at 4-4 after one period.

Philadelphia found its mojo and went on a run of five more goals fueled by markers from, Corey Vitarelli (1g), Kiel Matisz (2g,2a), Hickey, Matisz and the suddenly hot-handed, Trevor Baptiste (2g) to boost the Wings to a 9-4 edge.

The onslaught came in just 8:32 before the Riptide began to tread water.

John Wagner (1g) stemmed the Philly run but Baptiste went back to work, winning the ensuing faceoff and beating New York goalkeeper, Alex Buque before Digby would answer forty-five seconds later to close the half with the visitors holding a 10-6 edge.

5:15 into the half, Jean Luc Chetner (1g,4a) cut into the lead and gave New York life.

Matt Rambo set the table for Kevin Crowley (1g,6a) and just :40 later, Hickey and Crowley set up Currier for his second which gave the Wings a 12-7 edge.

Gibson would find rope fifty seconds apart to get New York to a 12-9 disadvantage going to the final stanza.

Could Philadelphia finally play a sixty-minute game and squeeze out a hard-fought win?

Uh oh…in a span of just 1:20, New York would get it even when Cody Radziewicz (1g,1a), Chetner and Gibson each exposed Zach Higgins and suddenly the teams were knotted at 12-12.

Philadelphia apparently has had enough of last quarter collapses and stormed the beach with goals from Hickey, Currier and an empty-net marker from Steph Charbonneau (1g) to put Philadelphia in team history books

Dis and Dat: The victory gives Philadelphia its first winning streak with two, it also reveals the franchise first-ever winning record and, dating back to the 2018 finale against Georgia, gives Philadelphia a two-out three streak.

Loose balls favored the Wings 68-56 and shots also favored the visitors, 61-49.

By: Kevin Neibauer

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Kevin Neibauer

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.