Orlin & Cohen Postgame Report: Riptide Rally Late But Fall Short In Georgia

Duluth, GA –New York Riptide forward Jeff Teat scored nine points on three goals and six assists, and the Riptide (1-7) scored the final three goals in the last 5:34 of the game, but New York was defeated 13-11 by the Georgia Swarm (4-5) at Gas South Arena in Duluth, Georgia Saturday evening.

Teat currently leads all rookies in scoring with 43 points on 13 goals and 30 assists (leads all categories). Riptide forward Callum Crawford scored five points on two goals and three assists, forward Connor Kearnan scored four points on two goals and two assists, and forward Kieran McArdle tallied four assists.

The game opened up with a back-and-forth defensive battle, as just one goal was scored in the first quarter to give the Swarm a 1-0 lead.

The second quarter opened up the game a bit more as eight goals were scored. After Georgia tallied the opening goal just 19 seconds into the second quarter, the Riptide rallied back to tie the game at two on goals from Kearnan and defenseman Dan MacRae. The Swarm scored four of the next five goals—with the lone Riptide goal coming from Teat— to take a 6-3 lead into the half.

Georgia started the second half by scoring two goals, but the Riptide responded with five of the next six goals to make it a 9-8 game, with two goals from Crawford and contributions from Fox, Teat, and Larson Sundown, as McArdle tallied his 100^th career assist on Fox’s goal. The Swarm would score before the end of the quarter to take a 10-8 lead into the fourth quarter.

Georgia went on to score the opening three goals of the final frame to extend their lead to 13-8 with 6:41 left in the game. The Riptide had a late game rally in them though and would score the next two goals, on tallies from Fox and Kearnan. The Swarm took a late game illegal substitution penalty with 57.8 seconds left, and because it took place in the last two minutes of the game, the Riptide were awarded a penalty shot. The Riptide sent Teat out to take it, and the rookie scored to cap off his hat trick. Georgia ran out the clock though to seal the victory.

With two loose balls in the game, Riptide defenseman Dan MacRae reached 800 in his career.

The Riptide will have a bye week next weekend before returning home to take on the Toronto Rock on Saturday, February 26 at 7:30 p.m. at Nassau Coliseum. Be sure to tune in to MSG+ and ESPN+ on television and WRHU Radio Hofstra University on the radio and web for coverage and follow @NewYorkRiptide on social media for updates.