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Wings Defeat Shamrox 19-11 In Home Opener

January 12, 2008 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Philadelphia Wings News Release


PHILADELPHIA - The Wings started the season with a decisive 19-11 win against Chicago Saturday at the Wachovia Center in front of 11,974 fans. The game was the first of the season and the first for new coach Dave Huntley. Rookie Merrick Thomson led the way with four goals and two assists. Athan Iannucci scored five goals and an assist and Jake Bergey added four goals and an assist. The Wings outshot the Shamrox, 71-48.

"It was a really good start," said Wings' Head Coach Dave Huntley. "I thought we played with great energy and great athleticism. It was great to see all the young players in their first game and nice to see a veteran like Bergey have a great night. It was a great team effort everywhere." A penalty in the first minute of the new season left the Wings short handed, but they were able to kill off the Chicago power play and take over for the remainder of the quarter. Philadelphia failed to convert on a five-on-three man advantage, but pushed on to score the only three goals of the quarter. Jason Crosbie netted his first for the Wings, Merrick Thompson tallied his first NLL goal, and Athan Iannucci also scored. Goalie Rob Blasdell stopped all eight Chicago shots and added an assist.

Chicago finally got into the game in the second quarter with two quick goals by Jason Clark and Bill McGlone. Josh Wasson-McQuigge tied the game at three midway through the quarter, but the Wings regained the lead just 20 seconds later on a goal by Jake Bergey. Philadelphia added three unanswered goals (Thenhhaus, Iannucci, Rooney) before the Shamrox scored a late-half goal on the power play from Mat Giles. Derek Collins replaced Brandon Miller in goal for Chicago after the Wings' seventh goal. Philadelphia led, 7-4, at halftime.

Peter Jacobs stole the ball and scored to start off the third quarter. Chicago answered on the power play (Calloum Crawford), but the Wings struck just five seconds later on Thomson's second tally of the game. The Shamrox dominated for the middle of the quarter with goals by Chris Panos and Crawford, to draw within two. Thomson completed the hat trick at the end of the quarter to give Philadelphia a three-goal lead going into the fourth quarter.

It took the Wings just 26 seconds to score in the fourth quarter (Bergey). Lindsay Plunkett got the goal back for Chicago, but Bergey responded by completing the hat trick less than a minute later. The Wings didn't give up control, putting the game out of reach with four more goals. Thomson netted his fourth, Iannucci completed the hat trick and scored his fourth, and Rooney scored his second of the game. Plunkett broke up the scoring streak with his second of the quarter. The Wings didn't let up, with additional goals from Taylor Wray and Iannucci. Kevin Fines and McGlone contributed with two more for Chicago, but Bergey had the last say to make it a 19-11 final.

Athan Iannucci (5G,1A) and Merrick Thomson (4G,2A) led the Wings in scoring with six points each. Six other players scored goals for Philadelphia, including Brenden Thenhaus (1G,1A), Jamie Rooney (2G,3A), Jason Crosbie (1G,6A) , Jake Bergey (4G,1A), Peter Jacobs (1G) and Taylor Wray (1G). Goaltender Rob Blasdell made 37 saves.

Lindsay Plunkett led the Shamrox in scoring with four points (2G,2A). Seven other players scored for Chicago, including Jason Clark (1G), Josh Wasson-McQuigge (1G,3A), Mat Giles (1G,2A), Bill McGlone )2G), Kevin Fines (1G,1A), Callum Crawford (2G,2A), and Chris Panos (1G). Goaltender Brandon Miller had 45 saves on 59 shots and Derek Collins had 7 saves on the night.

NOTES: Former Philadelphia Wings coach and player Tony Resch and will be among the National Lacrosse League's Hall Of Fame inductees for 2008. Resch was a member of all six of the Wings World Championship Teams, four as a head coach (1994, '95, '98, 2001) and two as a player (1989, '90). He will join Sal LoCascio, Johnny Mouradian, and writer Neil Stevens in the NLL's third Hall Of Fame Class.

For a complete scoring of tonight's game, log on to www.pointstreak.com .

The Wings next home game is January 18 against the Rochester Knighthawks at the Wachovia Center at 8:00 p.m. For more information call the Wings ticket office at (215) 389-WING or visit wingslax.com.



National Lacrosse League Stories from January 12, 2008


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