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Philadelphia Wings Play Back-To-Back Games against Minnesota this Weekend

January 15, 2014 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Philadelphia Wings News Release


The Philadelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League (NLL) play a home-and-home series against the Minnesota Swarm beginning at the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday, January 18 at 12 p.m. Immediately following the game, both teams will travel to Minnesota to play at the Xcel Energy Center on Sunday, January 19 at 3 p.m.

The Wings look for their first win at home during the 2014 campaign. This marks the first of three match-ups this season against the Swarm. Minnesota leads the overall series between the two teams (11-8). Philadelphia won the last meeting 15-13 on Sunday, April 7, 2013 to help solidify their spot in the 2013 NLL Playoffs.

"We were not happy with the two losses we incurred last week, but we are happy with how the team competed," said Wings Assistant Coach Jim Milligan. "We need to be ready to compete and energized for the games this weekend. The goal is to fight to stay above 0.500 [winning percentage]."

Multiple members of the Wings are currently among the league leaders in 2014. Forward Kyle Buchanan leads the team in points, goals, and assists (17 points, 7 goals, 10 assists). Overall in the NLL, he ranks second for points, third for assists, and seventh for goals. Joining Buchanan as league leaders from the Wings are Captain Brodie Merrill who ranks third in loose balls recovered (40 loose balls), Transition Player CJ Costabile ranks third in face-off wins (45 face-off wins) and Goalie Evan Kirk who ranks second in saves (105 saves).

Minnesota is led by Transition Player Kiel Matisz (five points, 3 goals) and Forward Callum Crawford (four points, two goals). Last year, Crawford led the team in scoring with 95 points (32 goals, 63 assists). The Swarm moved to the East Division in 2014 as a part of the division realignment in the new NLL Collective Bargaining Agreement. They have spent the previous ten seasons in the West Division.

Following this weekend's two games, Philadelphia will enter a bye week during week five before resuming play on Saturday, February 1 vs. the Vancouver Stealth at the Wells Fargo Center at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets for all Wings 2014 home games are available by phone at 215-389-WING or online at WingsLAX.com.

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