LA Riptide Stops Machine in Overtime

[Sonny]

CARSON, CALIFORNIA – Saturday, August 11, 2007 – Attackman Michael Watson (Virginia '97) scored the game winner at 2:54 of overtime to give the Los Angeles Riptide a come-from-behind 14-13 victory over the Chicago Machine before a crowd of 3,895 at The Home Depot Center on Saturday afternoon. Bud Light MVP/midfielder Graham Gill (Navy '05), who finished with a team-leading five goals and six points, scored the goal that sent the game to overtime with 16 seconds remaining on the fourth quarter clock.

Watson's goal, his third of the game and team-leading 31st goal of the season, gave the Riptide six victories in six home games at The Home Depot Center this season. Los Angeles, which wrapped up its first-ever Western Conference title when the San Francisco Dragons defeated the Denver Outlaws earlier in the day, next plays the Rochester Rattlers at NB ZIP MLL Championship Weekend, set for August 25-26 in Rochester, New York.

Riptide head coach John Tucker, who led the Riptide to a 9-3 regular season record, said he wasn't surprised to see Watson net the game-winner. "He's one of the best to ever play the game," said Tucker. "He's a guy that's under-sized but tough-as-nails. He does all of the little things well. I'm really happy for him because he works so hard and he has no ego. All he wants to do is win games."

Los Angeles was outscored 6-1 in the opening quarter with Gill collecting the home team's only goal. Attackman Spencer Ford (Towson '99) assisted on the goal, cutting Chicago's lead in half at 6:51. Chicago responded well to Gill's 23rd goal of the season, however, as the Machine closed the quarter with four straight markers.

The Riptide opened the second quarter with four straight goals and Gill was credited with the last two. Gill's second goal of the quarter, third goal of the game and 25th tally of the season made it a 6-5 Chicago lead at the 7:17 mark. Chicago survived the Riptide second quarter surge by scoring three of the last four goals to take a 9-6 lead into the dressing rooms.

Ford, Watson and Gill all had goals in the third quarter for the Riptide, and Gill's fourth goal of the game and 26th goal on the season made a 10-9 Machine lead at 6:50. Chicago scored the only other goal in the quarter to take a two-goal lead into the final stanza.

The Machine opened a 13-9 fourth quarter lead at 3:58, but the Riptide rallied with four straight goals to send the game to sudden victory. Riptide midfielder Matt Casey (Ithaca '05) had two of the goals - one at 5:50 and one at 12:10, and Watson's second goal of the game pulled the Riptide to within one goal at 12:52, setting up Gill's fifth goal of the game and 27th goal on the season at 14:44 of the quarter.

The Western Conference Champion Riptide are off until Saturday, August 25 when they take part in the NB ZIP MLL Championship Weekend in Rochester, New York. Los Angeles will face the host Rochester Rattlers in one of two championship semifinal games scheduled on that day. If the Riptide win their championship semifinal game, they will play the winner of the Philadelphia Barrage/Denver Outlaws championship semifinal game on Sunday, August 26 in Rochester.

Chicago (3-9) 6-3-2-2-0 / 13
Los Angeles (9-3) 1-5-3-4-1 / 14

Goals:
CHI – Kevin Leveille 4, Brad Heritage 3, Billy Looney 2, Pat Heim 1, Matthew Kerweck 1, Jake Deane 1, Nicholas Schmidt 1.
LA – Graham Gill 5, Michael Watson 3, Spencer Ford 2, Matt Casey 2, Wes Green 1, Matt Ogelsby 1.

Assists:
CHI – Sean Morris 2, Eric Pittard 1, Doug Shanahan 1.
LA – Spencer Ford 1, Greg Downing 1, Graham Gill 1, Sean Lindsay 1.

Saves:
CHI – Mike Gabel 22 (62:54, 14 goals allowed).
LA – Mickey Jarboe 12 (62:54, 13 goals allowed).

Attendance: 3,895