Los Angeles Riptide weekly update
July 5, 2006 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Los Angeles Riptide News Release
L.A. RIPTIDE TO FACE DENVER OUTLAWS, SATURDAY, JULY 8: After a disappointing loss to the Denver Outlaws on July 1, the Los Angeles Riptide return to California to complete the home-and-home series against the Outlaws on Saturday. After earning the first franchise home victory and the first franchise road victory in the previous two weeks, the Riptide was unable to break through with another victory last week against the Western Conference leading Outlaws. The team will get its second chance on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. (PT) at the Home Depot Center Track and Field Complex.
BRITTS NOTCHES A GOAL: There was a bright spot in the Riptide's 22-11 defeat against the Denver Outlaws on July 1. Devon Britts scored his first career MLL goal. Britts scored the Riptide's first goal of the game, unassisted, 3:06 into the first quarter. It was only the second MLL game for Britts who was picked up by the Riptide in the fifth round of its first-ever Major League Lacrosse (MLL) Collegiate Draft on May 31, 2006. Britts was activated from the Collegiate Inactive List on July 22 and played in his first match that Saturday, a 14-8 victory at the Chicago Machine.
RIPTIDE ALL-STARS: On Thursday, July 6, Riptide goalie Tillman Johnson and defenseman Dan Cocchi will play in the Fifth Major League Lacrosse All-Star Game. The game, which matches up the best players from MLL against the best from Team USA, will be played at Nickerson Field in Boston, Mass., home of the Boston Cannons. This will be the second consecutive All-Star appearance for Johnson and the first-ever appearance for Cocchi. Fans can view the game on ESPN2 on Sunday, July 9 at 1:00 p.m.
VETERAN LEADERSHIP: Veteran MLL attackman Michael Watson continues to lead the Riptide in offense. He had another strong performance in last week's game at Denver, notching four points (2 G, 2 A). His 21 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 three groundballs.
LINDSAY LEADS MIDFIELDERS: Midfielder Sean Lindsay continues his offensive consistency for the Riptide. He picked up his second hat trick of the season at Denver on July 1, scoring three goals, adding one assist picking up one groundball. Lindsay continues to lead all Riptide midfielders in scoring with 17 points (12 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 two goals in each subsequent game this season.
HELP FROM THE ROOKIE: Rookie D.J. Driscoll led the Riptide with four groundballs last week at Denver, continuing to improve defensively with each MLL game in which he plays. In the team's first-ever Major League Lacrosse (MLL) Collegiate Draft on May 31, the Riptide also selected Notre Dame defenseman Driscoll. 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 at least two groundballs in each of his four games this season. In his first two games for the Riptide, against Boston and Chicago, Driscoll picked up two groundballs in each contest. He added three groundballs in the team's win at Chicago. Driscoll, the Great West Defensive Player of the Year in 2006, was selected with the first pick of the second round of the draft.
WESTERN CONFERENCE OPPONENTS: The Riptide has now played three games against teams in the Western Conference. It won the first two, both against Chicago, but suffered its first loss against a fellow expansion team when was defeated by the Denver Outlaws last week. The Riptide was the first team in the Western Conference to complete its games against Eastern Conference teams, having played its first three games against Philadelphia, Rochester and Boston. All of the remaining games for the Riptide are against Western Conference opponents. Only L.A. and Chicago in the Western Conference have played all of their Eastern Conference matchups.
BLOGGING BICE: Los Angeles Riptide defenseman Greg Bice is soon to become an ESPN.com blogger. ESPN.com will soon feature weekly blogs written by two MLL players, Bice and San Francisco's Trey Whitty. Keep checking www.ESPN.com for Bice's blog, coming soon.
A TOUGH OPPONENT: The Riptide learned last week just how tough an opponent the Denver Outlaws are. The Outlaws have the best record in the Western Conference (5-2) and the Riptide learned why when they were defeated 22-11. The Riptide will have to pick up both the offense and defense when it gets its second chance against the Outlaws this week. The only team that has been able to defeat the Outlaws this season is another expansion team, the San Francisco Dragons. San Francisco is up next for L.A. after the match against the Outlaws.
NEW 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.
Major League Lacrosse Stories from July 5, 2006
- Los Angeles Riptide weekly update - Los Angeles Riptide
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