Orlin & Cohen Postgame Report: Riptide Fall 11-10 to Knighthawks in overtime

Despite 52 saves from Steve Orleman and a hat trick from Kevin Brownell, the New York Riptide lost a heartbreaking game on Saturday night, falling 11-10 to the Rochester Knighthawks on the road.

Jeff Teat scored the first two goals of the game, first with a quick shot through a screen just 30 seconds in, and then from distance off a rebound a little over 5 minutes later. Rochester got the next 2 goals, first a power play marker from Ryan Smith, and then a transition goal from Ryland Rees before Kevin Brownell scored consecutive goals on breakaways in transition to end the first quarter with the Riptide up 4-2.

After a Matt Marinier goal was overturned for a crease violation, Connor Fields got the first goal of the second, and then Brad Gillies tied the game just seconds later with a transition goal. Brownell got his third of the game and the Riptide’s first of the quarter with yet another transition goal, hitting the top left corner, but Fields would respond on the following possession. Teat took the lead back for New York, however, Holden Cattoni scored on the power play for Rochester with 3.4 seconds left in the half, and it was a 6-6 game at the break.

The third quarter saw just 3 goals, all for the Knighthawks. Fields gave Rochester their first lead of the game when he scored from outside, then Paul Dawson extended the lead 8 minutes later with a breakaway goal, and Gillies followed this up after a Riptide turnover in their own end to make it 9-6.

The fourth quarter once again started with a Rochester goal, this time from Thomas Hoggarth before Tyler Digby broke an almost 25 minute scoring drought for the Riptide with a low shot from the center of the floor. New York then began to mount a late comeback when Reilly O’Connor got his first of the game to once again make it a 2 goal contest with 3:05 remaining, and Teat cut it to 10-9 when his long range shot trickled through Rylan Hartley, and then a Ron John breakaway goal, his first of the season, tied it with 54.8 seconds left which sent the teams to overtime.

In the extra frame, both teams had several opportunities as both defenses and goalies stood strong, with Orleman making several big saves, notably stopping Rees and Fields on  breakaways, however, he couldn’t work his magic for a third time, as Gillies won the game for Rochester with a breakaway goal with 57.5 seconds left in overtime.

New York’s next game is on Saturday, March 4 against the Philadelphia Wings at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. The game will be available to watch on ESPN+, and listen to on WRHU 88.7 FM, WRHU.org and the WRHU iPhone App. Live stats and periodic in-game updates will be available via Twitter @ NewYorkRiptide.