Orlin & Cohen Postgame Report: Riptide Fall In Season Opener 15-14

Uniondale, NY – The New York Riptide thought that forward Jeff Teat tied the game with just 6.2 seconds left, but upon video review the referees ruled no goal, and the San Diego Seals came out on top in a 15-14 thriller to open up the 2022-23 NLL season.

“The biggest thing between this team and the [2021-22] one is our lacrosse IQ in situational play which we saw tonight.” head coach Dan Ladouceur said. “There were all kinds of situational play where you know we didn’t necessarily make the right decision. We didn’t protect the ball. Again, and it feels like I’m making an excuse but I’m not. I think you add some Noseworthy’s, your MacRae’s and your Stouros’ back in that lineup, Callum on the offensive end, I think we make some better decisions.

Teat finished the night with 11 points on four goals and seven assists. Both forwards Connor Kearnan and Reilly O’Connor, who made his Riptide debut on Saturday, finished with five points on two goals and three assists.

San Diego jumped out quickly to a 2-0 lead before forward Callum Crawford scored to open up the season for the Riptide.

After San Diego scored to push their lead to two, it was O’Connor and Teat who would tally to tie the game at three at the end of the first quarter. In the second, Teat and Jake Fox quickly scored for the Riptide to push New York out in front 5-3. San Diego would score four of the next five goals though to take an 8-6 lead into the break.

In the third, Dan Lomas scored to bring the Riptide back within one goal, but it was the Seals who would counter with three straight to push out to an 11-7 lead heading into the final frame.

After two straight San Diego goals to open up the quarter, the Riptide countered with two goals from Jeff Teat. The teams would trade goals with Jay Thorimbert scoring for the Riptide before the Seals would score again to make it a 15-10 game. With four minutes left, the Riptide rallied with four straight powerplay goals from defenseman Andrew Borgatti, Fox, and a pair from Kearnan. The Riptide maintained control of the ball with 20 seconds to play and upon heading up field, it appeared that Jeff Teat scored on a rebound with just 6.2 seconds left. Upon video review, the goal was disallowed and San Diego was able to maintain possession and run out the clock.

The Riptide will have a bye week next weekend, before facing the Halifax Thunderbirds on Saturday December 17th at 7:30pm as the team hosts The Holiday Spectacular at Nassau Coliseum. This will mark the second home game of a stretch that will see the Riptide play five of their first six games at home. The game will be available to watch on MSGSN 2 and 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.