Boston Hands LA First Loss

June 2, 2007 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Los Angeles Riptide News Release


Saturday, June 2, 2007 - Bud Light MVP Mickey Powell collected three goals and seven points to lead the Boston Cannons past the Los Angeles Riptide, 19-14, before a crowd of 9,375 at Harvard Stadium in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Saturday night.

With the win, the Cannons evened their record at 2-2 on the season. The Riptide, who were led in scoring by Michael Watson (5 goals, 7 shots, 8 points), saw their record drop to 2-1 after three Major League Lacrosse games this season.

Boston outscored Los Angeles 7-5 in a wide-open first quarter. Graham Gill (Navy '05) and Andrew "Buggs" Combs (Maryland '01) each accounted for two goals in the opening 15 minutes for the visitors. One of Combs' two tallies in the quarter was scored with the Riptide enjoying a man-advantage. The Riptide scored the first two goals in the quarter, but the Cannons responded strongly by scoring five of the last six goals in the stanza to take a two-goal lead. Two of the Cannons' goals in the period also came via the man-advantage.

"It was probably too wide-open for us," said Riptide head coach John Tucker when asked about his team's performance. "We played well early, but for the most part, we didn't do a good job across the board. We didn't share the ball. We were dodging and shooting, and we didn't pass and play the team game that helped lead us to wins in our first two games this season."

Watson (Virginia '97) scored two of the Riptide's three goals in the second quarter and he led his club with three goals through 30 minutes. The Cannons, however, edged the Riptide four goals to three in the second quarter and led 11-8 at the midway point of the contest.

For the first time this season, the Riptide failed to score in a period and they trailed the Cannons 15-8 through three quarters of action. The Cannons added four more goals to their total in the quarter, and included in that total was Boston's third man-advantage goal of the contest.

The Riptide mounted a late comeback by scoring six of the first eight goals in the fourth quarter to pull to within three goals at 17-14, but the Cannons closed the scoring with two more tallies to post the 19-14 win. Watson and Gill each had two goals for the Riptide in the final 15 minutes, and both finished with four goals in the contest.

Riptide goaltender Mickey Jarboe (Navy '00) started the contest. He allowed 15 goals on 22 shots before he was replaced by goaltender Matt Russell (Navy '06) in the final quarter. Russell allowed four goals on nine shots in 15 minutes of work.

The Riptide will return to action next Saturday, June 9 when they travel to meet one of their Western Conference rivals, the Denver Outlaws, at 5 p.m. Pacific.

The Riptide's next home game is set for Saturday, June 23 versus the Chicago Machine at The Home Depot Center, with the game scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.

Individual tickets to see the Riptide this summer at Home Depot Center are on sale now with tickets starting at $18 for general admission. Season tickets are also available. For more information, visit LARIPTIDE.COM or call 1-866-4-LAX-TIX.



Major League Lacrosse Stories from June 2, 2007


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