The Philadelphia Wings (1-1) had the grim task of traveling across the continent to take on the defending NLL Champions, the Calgary Roughnecks (2-2) on the final weekend of 2019.
Philadelphia pulled off the biggest victory in the history of the new franchise with a thrilling 8-7 victory over Calgary.
For a change, Philadelphia was on the receiving end of a few good omens.
Calgary was hit with a delay of game penalty due to being unable to start the game on time.
Josh Currier (1a) and The Big Cat, Kevin Crowley set up Matt Rambo (2g) just 1:25 in and Philly had the 1-0 advantage.
The first period was a heavyweight battle with both squads counter-punching for the duration.
Crowley once again was in the giving mood and aided Brett Hickey (1g, 1a)
to double the lead, 2-0.
Calgary took the hits and rebounded with a Tyson Bell (1g) short-handed goal.
A transition goal, started when Liam Byrnes (2a) outlets to Kiel Matisz (1a) who hit Crowley (3g, 3a) to put Philly in front, 3-1 at 8:02.
Calgary wiped their brow and went on a run with goals from Dan Taylor (2g) who buried a Marshal King (2a) pass.
Curtis Dickson (3g,1a) found rope behind Wings netminder, Zach Higgins.
36 ticks later, Mitch Wilde (1g) found the net to push the ‘Necks to a 4-3 edge.
Just twelve seconds after the Wilde goal, Trevor Baptiste won the faceoff cleanly, took it to the house and picked up his first NLL goal to close the high spirited first stanza with a 4-4 tie.
Both teams defenses had enough of the run and gun and took over the game.
The only lamplighter in the second came from Curtis Dickson, who converted a Marshal King to Dan Taylor feed to close the half with Calgary clinging to a one-goal advantage at 5-4.
Finally, after a scoring drought of 24:35, Kevin Crowley leveled the score.
With 3:53 remaining, Dickson stole the lead back and the fourth quarter was upon us with Calgary leaking oil and holding the 6-5 upper hand.
Zach Higgins was in the midst of the best game he had ever played and his teammates fed off of it and witnessed Corey Vitarelli (1g) put the tying goal behind Christian Del Bianco, the Calgary netminder.
Just :50 later, at 4:34, Crowley fired a laser that gave Philadelphia the lead.
A minute fifty later, Dan Taylor deposited a Tyson Bell (1a) and Shane Simpson (1a) set up behind Higgins and overtime loomed.
Crowley, Hickey, and Rambo never got the memo and Rambo ended the affair at the 19:57 mark to give Philadelphia its biggest franchise win thus far.
Dis and Dat: Shots on Goal were even at 55-55.
Loose balls went the way of Calgary, 75-71.
By: Kevin Neibauer
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Kevin has followed and promoted the game of lacrosse since May 19, 1974.
The same day the Philadelphia Flyers won the Cup, the Philadelphia Wings were introduced to Neibauer and Philadelphia.
Kevin has covered many sports, including baseball, football, basketball, and.. lacrosse. A former licensed football referee and baseball umpire, Kevin brings a unique insight to his game coverage.
A published writer in JustHockey Magazine, Kevin covered the American Hockey League as well as a monthly story on a pugilist where Kevin used the pen name, The Rink Rat. Neibauer turned his attentions to lacrosse for a few years and does his part, whether podcasting or writing to grow the game. Kevin branched out to his roots and currently provides insight for all Philadelphia teams for Edge of Philly as well as his full-time duties with LaxPhilly.
