Riptide looking for first road win in team history
June 23, 2006 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Los Angeles Riptide News Release
CARSON, CA (Thursday, June 22, 2006) - The Los Angeles Riptide of Major League Lacrosse (MLL) takes to the road to play the second half of a home-and-home series at the Chicago Machine this Saturday, June 24 at the Sports Complex of Benedictine University at 7:00 p.m.
Now that the team has its first victory, a 17-6 decision against the Chicago Machine at the Home Depot Center Track and Field Complex on June 17, the Riptide looks to notch its first road win in team history. Last week's game was the first match against a Western Conference opponent for the Riptide. Los Angeles lost its first three games of the season to Eastern Conference opponents, but showed steady improvement, finally being rewarded with a victory last week.
"It seemed like we played with a lot of urgency today," said Riptide head coach John Tucker after the first win in club history. "It's obviously a long season, but winning these Western Conference games is big, and today was a big step for us."
The Riptide begins a two-game road trip, which will conclude next week against the Denver Outlaws. The Riptide has a tough road ahead with all its remaining matches against Western Conference rivals. This could help the positioning for a playoff spot, though, if the team responds well.
Attackman Andrew Combs made his Riptide debut last week against Chicago after being acquired from the Rochester Rattlers on June 13. The veteran paid immediate dividends, helping to spark the offense by scoring two goals, including the game-winning goal. Midfielder Kevin Dougherty had the best game of his MLL career, scoring five goals, including the team's first 2-point goal of the season, and adding two assists.
The Riptide also looks to continue playing the strong defense that it played in last week's game.
"We changed our defensive system around and our slide packages, which I think is the reason that we were able to hold them to six goals," Tucker said after last week's game.
The Riptide might be an expansion team, but it boasts some of the top players in the league, led by the high-scoring MLL veteran Michael Watson and top goalie and 2006 All-Star Tillman Johnson. The Riptide also expect defender Dan Cocchi to make an impact, as the fourth-year pro is fresh off winning the 2005 MLL title with the Baltimore Bayhawks and was selected to the 2006 All-Star team.
The Riptide attack is based on precision accuracy and blinding speed, provided by former Princeton University star Sean Hartofilis and former Syracuse University star Brian Nee.
Nee has quickly taken the scoring lead for the Riptide. He has picked up 14 points on his ten goals and four assists. He has provided some scoring consistency for the Riptide, contributing at least two goals in each of the first four games.
The Riptide midfield is bolstered by the confident leadership of Sean Lindsay, who scored 29 goals and registered 12 assists in his first two years in Major League Lacrosse. This season he is the Riptide point leader among midfielders with 11 points. Lindsay's former Syracuse University teammate Kevin Dougherty will also provide midfield stability, while nine-year indoor lacrosse veteran and former Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year Matt Ogelsby will make an impact as well.
Tickets for the Riptide's inaugural season at The Home Depot Center are on sale now, with season ticket packages beginning at just $96 (adults)/ $80 (youth 16 & under). For more information or to purchase your tickets today, please call toll free at 1-866-4-LAX-TIX.
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Major League Lacrosse Stories from June 23, 2006
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