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Rochester Defeats Wings 12-10

April 12, 2003 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Philadelphia Wings News Release


ROCHESTER, NY - The Philadelphia Wings' were defeated by the Rochester Knighthawks in their final regular season game by a score of 12-10 at the Blue Cross Arena.

The Wings (8-8) can still clinch a playoff bid and the National Lacrosse League's Eastern Division if the Toronto Rock defeats the Colorado Mammoth tomorrow at the Air Canada Centre. Game time is 4 p.m. If the Mammoth loses the Wings will host the NLL's sixth seed in opening round playoff action at the First Union Center on Friday, April 18 at 8 p.m.

"We wanted to enter the playoffs on our own terms with a win tonight," said Wings' coach Adam Mueller. "We hope for some help for Toronto tomorrow, then it's a whole new season for us."

The Wings Keith Cromwell opened up the scoring in the first quarter at 1:19. The Knighthawks then scored five straight goals by Derek Malawsky, Curt Malawsky, Derek Malawsky again, then Curt Malawsky again. Tim Soudan netted the Knighthawks' fifth straight goal with 11:38 left in the first quarter. The Wings ended Rochester's scoring streak when Brian Tower scored at 12:53. At the end of the first quarter the Knighthawks led the Wings by a score of 5-2.

The Wings got on the board first in the second quarter when Tom Marechek scored at 2:55. Rochester's John Grant scored on a power play goal to extend his team's lead by three again but the Wings' Jeff Ratcliffe recorded is 101st regular season career goal just :32 later. Rochester scored three straight (Mike Hasen, Curt Malawsky, and John Grant) to put the Knighthawks in the lead at halftime by a score of 9-4. Wings goaltender Dallas Eliuk had 14 saves after two quarters while Rochester's Pat O'Toole had 16.

The Wings' scored three straight in the third quarter. Ratcliffe scored first in the second half at 4:32 followed by Andrew Guindon's first goal of the game at 10:27, followed by another by Ratcliffe goal at 11:22. The Wings held Rochester scoreless in the third quarter to cut the Knighthawks lead to two. At the final buzzer, the Knighthawks held on to defeat the Wings by a score of 12-10. Wings' goaltender Eliuk made 31 saves on the night and the Knighthawks' O'Toole also made 31.

Marechek opened the scoring in the fourth to extend the Wings scoring streak to four, but the Knighthawks Grant scored at 3:51 followed by another Rochester goal by Derek Malawsky. The Wings Marechek scored his third of the night at 7:44 and Dan Marohl scored his first of the night to pull Philadelphia within one, but the Knighthawks' Grant scored at 12:49 to extend Rochester's lead to two again. At the final buzzer, the Knighthawks held on to defeat the Wings by a score of 12-10.

Jeff Ratcliffe led the Wings offense with five points (3G, 2A). Other leading scorers for Philadelphia included Tom Marechek with four points (3G, 1A), Keith Cromwell with four points (1G, 3A), and Dan Marohl, Brian Tower and Andrew Guindon with one goal each. Goaltender Dallas Eliuk had 31 saves at the end of the night.

Derek and Curt Malawsky each had three goals for the Knighthawks. Goaltender Pat O'Toole finished the night with 31 saves for Rochester.

NOTES: Playoff tickets are available at the First Union Center Box Office, at all TicketMaster outlets, online at Ticketmaster.com or by calling (215) 336-2000 ... The Calgary Roughnecks defeated the Buffalo Bandits last night to eliminate the Wings ability to clinch a wild-card spot in the NLL Playoffs. If the Mammoth win tomorrow night, Philadelphia will not qualify for post-season play.



National Lacrosse League Stories from April 12, 2003


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