Wings Pull off The Improbable, 12-11

The slumping Philadelphia Wings (8-6) took on division foe, the Georgia Swarm (7-5) on Sunday afternoon in Georgia. Two teams going in opposite directions with Philadelphia losing three in a row and Georgia having won 5 of its last 6. This looked to be a lost weekend for the Wings who dropped a decision to New England Saturday afternoon and this one started very ominously.

Georgia swarmed to a five-goal first quarter thanks to Randy Staats (4g,3a), Zed Williams (1g), Adam Wiedemann (1g), Bryan Cole (1g) and a man advantage five-hole goal that Shayne Jackson (3g,3a) buried and Philadelphia was victimized by their annual bad quarter and found themselves in a five-goal hole against one of the stronger offenses in the NLL.

2:33 into the second, Staats pushed it to 6-0 off a transition goal started by a netminder, Mike Poulin (1a). Philadelphia snapped a 20:11 scoreless string when Kevin Crowley (3a) hit Blaze Riorden (5g, 3a) who lit the lamp to make it 6-1. It took just :43 for Jackson to answer and put the Swarm back up by 6.

Suddenly, Philadelphia found its mojo and dominated the remainder of the first half. Crowley and Matt Rambo (3a) teamed up and Kiel Matisz (3g,1a) deposited their passing prowess. The same duo assisted on the second of the quarter from Riorden. Josh Currier (2g) Matisz and another from Currier on the advantage staggered Georgia and closed the half with a new game at 7-6 Swarm.

Staats at the :31 mark and a man-up goal at 6:13 seemed to revitalize the home team. Riorden stepped up and said, “you scored back to back goals… hold my beer!” and matched the Staats pair with a pair of his own. Staats turned playmaker and set up Lyle Thompson (1g, 4a) on a pretty man-up goal to close the third with Georgia holding a two-goal lead, 10-8.

Just :57 in and Brett Hickey (2g,3a) notched his 8th power play of the season to make it 10-9. Jackson countered at 6:07 but the Tide would quickly swing back the Philadelphia way. Kiel Matisz would get his hat trick off a penalty shot. Matisz then worked with Cory Vitarelli (3a) and set up Riorden to knot it up with 4:39 remaining.

Brett Hickey stepped up and beat Poulin with what would turn out to be his league-leading the fifth game-winning goal. Crowley and Riorden each assisted. The goal came with 1:35 to go and Trevor Baptiste, Wings’ face-off specialist, would win the ensuing faceoff to run some time off the clock.

Georgia got possession and quickly called a time out. Mike Poulin went to bench in favor of an extra attacker but The Swarm was unable to put one past Wings keeper, Zach Higgins.

Dis and Dat:

Trevor Baptiste was once again, outstanding, going 22 of 27 from the “x”.
Shots on goal favored Georgia. 54-48 with Georgia having an additional 30 shots, not on goal.
Loose balls also went the Georgia way, 82-76.
Power plays were a big part of the story with Georgia posting 3 for 5 to counter Philadelphia’s 2 of 5.
Zach Higgins made 43 saves in the Wings net with Mike Poulin stopping 36 Philly shots.
New York (1-12) visits Philadelphia next Sunday while Georgia has a week off.

Kevin Neibauer

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.