L.A. Riptide Weekly Update
July 18, 2006 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Los Angeles Riptide News Release
L.A. RIPTIDE TO HOST SAN FRANCISCO DRAGONS, SATURDAY, JULY 22: After a week off to recover from back-to-back losses to the Denver Outlaws, the Los Angeles Riptide returns to The Home Depot Center to face the San Francisco Dragons on Saturday, July 22 at 1:00 p.m. (PT). It will be the first game of a home-and-home series against the Dragons, which will conclude on Sunday, July 23 at 1:00 p.m. (PT) in San Francisco.
RIPTIDE FAMILY PACK: The game against San Francisco is the final Family Pack game of the season. For as little as $60, you can get four tickets, four hot dogs and four sodas to enjoy the Riptide taking on the Dragons. Go to www.lariptide.com or call 1-866-4-LAX-TIX to purchase the Riptide Family Pack.
RIPTIDE MAKING MOVES: On July 11, the Los Angeles Riptide participated in a couple transactions. It began with the team claiming attackman Colin Doyle as a Discovery Player. The Riptide then promptly traded Doyle to the Rochester Rattlers for midfielder J.J. Morrissey. Morrissey was selected 28th overall by the Rattlers in the 2006 Major League Lacrosse Collegiate Draft, but has not yet seen MLL action. He is the third Los Angeles player to spend time on the Rochester roster this season to be acquired by the Riptide within a month (Buggs Combs on June 13 and Spencer Ford on July 5). Morrissey scored five goals and added six in 2006 for the University of Virginia, helping lead the Cavaliers to the national championship over UMass. He was also third on the team with 62 groundballs.
BLOGGING BICE: Los Angeles Riptide defenseman Greg Bice is now an ESPN.com blogger. ESPN.com is now featuring weekly blogs written by two MLL players, Bice and San Francisco's Trey Whitty. Bice's first blog is up at espn.com now. Keep checking http://sports.espn.go.com/extra/lacrosse/index for Bice's current blog and new ones coming soon.
VETERAN LEADERSHIP: Veteran MLL attackman Michael Watson continues to lead the Riptide in offense. He had another two-goal performance in the loss to the Denver Outlaws on July 8 at the Home Depot Center. His 23 points for the season place him firmly in the team's scoring lead. After getting off to a slow start, not scoring any points in the first game of the season on May 27 at Philadelphia, Watson has contributed at least two goals in each subsequent game. Watson also contributed defensively against Denver, scooping up two groundballs.
LINDSAY LEADS MIDFIELDERS: Midfielder Sean Lindsay continues his offensive consistency for the Riptide. He picked up his first two-point goal of the season against Denver on July 8. Lindsay continues to lead all Riptide midfielders in scoring with 19 points (13 goals, 5 assists). He is also second among all Riptide players in scoring. After not scoring any points in the first game of the season, Lindsay has picked up the offense, netting at least one goal, and two points, in each subsequent game this season.
FORD DEBUTS FOR THE RIPTIDE: Attackman/midfielder Spencer Ford made his Riptide debut against the Denver Outlaws on July 8. Ford was claimed from the League Player Pool on July 5. Spencer played in one game for the Rochester Rattlers this season, registering three assists. He did not register any points for the Riptide in his first game.
HELP FROM THE ROOKIE: Rookie D.J. Driscoll continues to contribute to the Riptide defense. In the team's first-ever Major League Lacrosse (MLL) Collegiate Draft on May 31, the Riptide selected the Notre Dame defenseman. Driscoll picked up his first MLL assist in the Riptide's first win on June 17 against the Chicago Machine on the game-winning goal scored by Andrew Combs. Driscoll has picked up groundballs in every game he has played in this season. Driscoll, the Great West Defensive Player of the Year in 2006, was selected with the first pick of the second round of the draft.
COMBS CONTINUES TO CONTRIBUTE: The June 13, 2006 trade in which the Riptide acquired attackman Andrew "Buggs" Combs from the Rochester Rattlers continues to pay dividends. Combs has contributed to the offense in each of the four games he has played in since being acquired by the Riptide, scoring at least one goal in each of those games.
PLAYOFF FORMAT: Four teams advance to the MLL playoffs. The Eastern Conference and Western Conference leaders advance to the playoffs. There are also two wild card spots, which are won by the two teams with the next best regular season records, regardless of the conference they are in. The conference winner with the best record plays the wild card team with the lesser record in one semi-final game, while the remaining two teams play in the other second semi-final game. The winners of the two semi-final games will play each other in the Championship Game. All three games will be played at the Home Depot Center Track and Field Complex during the New Balance Championship Weekend on Friday, August 25 and Sunday August 27.
WESTERN CONFERENCE OPPONENTS: The Riptide completed its games against Eastern Conference teams early in the season. The first three games were all against teams in the east, leaving all remaining games to be played against the west. Only L.A. and Chicago in the Western Conference have played all of their Eastern Conference matchups. The Riptide has one game against Chicago, one game against Denver and three games against second-place San Francisco remaining.
WEBSITE FEATURES: Don't miss the two weekly columns on the Riptide's revamped website, www.lariptide.com. Each Monday, look for "Inside the Numbers," written by lacrosse analyst Nick Ammazzalorso. Ammazzalorso takes a look back at the previous game and ahead to next week's game. Each Friday, there's "Shannon's Slant," written by Inside Lacrosse Magazine Assistant Editor Geoff Shannon. Shannon brings you highlights of the past week and his slant on the week ahead, as well as in depth and personal looks at the Riptide's superstars.
2006 RIPTIDE SEASON TICKETS ON SALE: Los Angeles Riptide season tickets for 2006 are on sale. Season ticket packages for the Riptide's inaugural season at the Home Depot Center start at just $96 for adults and $80 for youth (16 & under). For more information or to reserve your seats today, call the Riptide ticket office at 1-866-4-LAX-TIX, or visit the Riptide's website at www.lariptide.com.
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Major League Lacrosse Stories from July 18, 2006
- L.A. Riptide Weekly Update - Los Angeles Riptide
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