Los Angeles Riptide weekly update
August 15, 2006 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Los Angeles Riptide News Release
MLL CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND AT HOME DEPOT CENTER FRIDAY, AUGUST 25 AND SUNDAY, AUGUST 27: The Home Depot Center will play host to Major League Lacrosse's New Balance Championship Weekend, which will be held on Friday, Aug. 25 and Sunday, Aug. 27. The Denver Outlaws and the San Francisco Dragons will face off in the first semi-final game on Aug. 25 at 6:00 p.m. (PT) and the Philadelphia Barrage will take on the Boston Cannons in the second semi-final game, at 8:30 p.m. (PT). The winners will play each other in the Championship game on Aug. 27 at 2:00 p.m. (PT) live on ESPN2. For more information, or to purchase tickets, please call toll free at 1-866-4-LAX-TIX.
RIPTIDE SEASON OVER: Needing a victory over the Western Conference-leading Denver Outlaws on Aug. 12 to advance to the playoffs, the Riptide fell short, 13-9. It was the closest game the two teams played all season, with the Riptide staying with the Outlaws throughout most of the game, even tying the score at 9-9 on a two-pointer by Sean Lindsay with 12:07 remaining. In the end, Denver's offense was too much for the Riptide when Jeff Zywicki netted three consecutive goals to win the game for the Outlaws and put an end to the Riptide's inaugural season.
EVEN SEASON: In the Riptide's inaugural season, the team finished with a 6-6 record. The Riptide improved in the second half of the season to finish .500 after losing its first three games and heading into the All-Star break with a 2-5 record.
ROOKIE TOPS ON DEFENSE: Rookie D.J. Driscoll had an impressive season, making himself a strong candidate for the MLL Rookie of the Year award. Driscoll led the Riptide in groundballs with 37 in just 10 games and finished 17th in the league in groundballs. The 22-year-old former Notre Dame defenseman had the best performance of his MLL career against the San Francisco Dragons on July 22, scooping up nine groundballs. The Great West Defensive Player of the Year in 2006, Driscoll was selected with the first pick of the second round of the Riptide's first-ever Major League Lacrosse Collegiate Draft.
STRENGTH IN GOAL: Veteran goalie Tillman Johnson was a big reason the Riptide was able to turn its season around. Johnson finished the season first in the league in saves (228), second in save percentage (.613) and fourth in goals against average (12.71). In the 14-8 victory at the Chicago Machine on June 24, Johnson made 25 saves on 32 shots on goal for a save percentage of .781. Not only was that Johnson's best performance of the season, it was the highest single game save percentage of any MLL goalie this season.
FORMER RATTLERS SHOWED BITE: In an attempt to add offense and bolster the midfield, the Riptide acquired three players from the Rochester Rattlers in the middle of the season. Attackman Andrew "Buggs" Combs was acquired on June 13, attackman Spencer Ford was acquired on July 5 and defensive midfielder J.J. Morrissey was acquired on July 11. All three former Rattlers contributed to the Riptide. Since Combs joined the Riptide lineup three games into the season, he scored at least one goal in every game and at least two goals in seven games for a total of 25 goals. He also finished third on the team in points. Ford registered at least two points in each of his six games with the Riptide, finishing the season with six goals and 11 assists. Morrissey picked up at least one groundball in four of the five games he played in since joining the Riptide, finishing the season with 10.
VETERAN LEADERSHIP: Veteran MLL attackman Michael Watson led the way offensively for the Riptide all season. He had another multi-goal performance in the season finale against Denver on Aug. 12, scoring two goals and adding two assists. His 40 points for the season made him the team's leading scorer. After not scoring in the season opener, Watson contributed at least two goals in each every game, finishing the season with an 11 game goal-scoring streak.
LINDSAY LED MIDFIELDERS: Sean Lindsay was the most consistent midfielder for the Riptide this season. He scored five hat tricks led the Riptide with four two-point goals. Lindsay led all Riptide midfielders in scoring with 36 points (20 goals, 4 two-point goals, 8 assists) and was second among all Riptide players in scoring.
RIPTIDE SCORING LEADERS: The Riptide finished its inaugural season with three players amongst the MLL top-25 goal scorers. Michael Watson and Andrew "Buggs" Combs finished in an eighth place tie with 27 goals and Sean Lindsay finished in tie for 15th place with 24 goals.
BLOGGING BICE: Los Angeles Riptide defenseman Greg Bice became an ESPN.com blogger this season. Bice wrote three blogs throughout the season for ESPN.com. Francisco's Trey Whitty was the other MLL player to write a blog for ESPN.com. Bice's three blogs are still online at http://sports.espn.go.com/extra/lacrosse/index for fans to enjoy some "Bicecream" humor.
RIPTIDE FIRSTS: The Riptide's first victory came, 17-6, against the Chicago Machine on June 17 at The Home Depot Center...The team's first road victory came one week later, 14-8, on June 24, against the Machine...Riptide midfielder Steve Vallone scored the first goal in Riptide history, unassisted, at 4:52 into the second quarter on May 27 in Philadelphia...Sean Hartofolis scored the Riptide's second goal in history as Brian Nee recorded the first assist in club history on the strike on May 27...Brian Nee scored the first home goal in Riptide history at the Home Depot Center on June 3 against Rochester... Michael Watson netted the teams first-ever hat trick, scoring four goals and one assist on June 3 vs. Rochester... Kevin Dougherty scored the team's first two-point goal on June 17 against the Chicago Machine at the Home Depot Center...Brian Nee became the first Riptide player to score a short-handed goal on June 17...The first captains in Riptide history were Dan Cocchi, Tillman Johnson and Michael Watson.
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Major League Lacrosse Stories from August 15, 2006
- Los Angeles Riptide weekly update - Los Angeles Riptide
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