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Albany FireWolves

Albany FireWolves Secure Home Playoff Game with 16-10 Win Over New York Riptide

April 20, 2024 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Albany FireWolves News Release


Uniondale, NY - It took a full 60 minutes, but the Albany FireWolves (11-7) pulled out a historic 16-10 win over the New York Riptide (8-10) that secured their first ever home playoff game since the team has been in Albany. The FireWolves' playoff run will begin at MVP Arena next weekend on Sunday, April 28 at 3 pm.

Thanks to a ten-goal first half and a strong response to a run by the Riptide, the FireWolves used a balanced team effort from the offense, defense, and goalie Doug Jamieson to end the regular season with a new franchise record of 11 wins.

The FireWolves offense picked a good night for their stars to have career best performances and every forward to score a goal. Ethan Walker had a career high 10 pts (4g, 6a), rookie Tye Kurtz had a career high 10 pts (3g, 7a), and rookie Alex Simmons had a career high 9 pts (4g, 5a). Scoring was rounded out by Sam Firth with 5pts (2g, 3a) and Marshall Powless, Travis Longboat, and Nathan Grenon each scored 1 goal. Jamieson finished with 39 saves on 49 shots on goal and made several key saves in the final quarter to seal the game.

FireWolves came out to a hot start with a 5-0 run that began with two power play goals off a five-minute major penalty by the Riptide. Longboat, Kurtz, and Walker would score the other three as the offense came alive early and ended the first quarter still up 5-0.

The Riptide would finally get on the board in the second quarter with a two-goal run to make it 5-2. The FireWolves would answer back with two more goals as Simmons ripped one in and Kurtz converted on the power play to bring their lead to 7-2. The Riptide would score on a power play to close the gap to 7-3, but Albany would respond again with three-goal run with tallies by Firth, Walker, and Grenon to bring the score to 10-3. The Riptide would score a late goal to bring it to 10-4 at halftime.

In the second half, the Riptide would not go down without a fight with their playoff hopes on the line. Walker would start the scoring in the third quarter and the Riptide answered with four goals as they cut the score to 11-8. The game went back and forth as Kurtz scored his third goal of the night to make it 12-8, but the Riptide would respond soon after with a goal to cut it to 12-9. From here the FireWolves took back control of the game with huge goals from Simmons and Firth to extend their lead to 14-9 with 10 minutes to go. The Riptide would score their last goal making it 14-10, but Walker would answer with his fourth goal of the night and Simmons would put home an empty netter as the FireWolves secured the 16-10 win.

With the end of a historic regular season for the Albany FireWolves franchise, they now prepare for the postseason and an opportunity to continue to write history. It all starts at MVP Arena in downtown Albany on Sunday, April 28 at 3 pm.

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