Wings fall flat in loss to Rock

by Tom Hoffman

In a game that was being billed as an early showdown for first place in the National Lacrosse League's Eastern Division, the Toronto Rock showed why they are the league's defending champions. Despite missing big guns Colin Doyle and Blaine Manning from their lineup due to injury, the Rock got plenty of offense from Josh Sanderson, Stephan Leblanc and Garrett Billings and more than enough defense to handily defeat the Philadelphia Wings 15-6 Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Center.

"We didn't do the things that we needed to do to be successful," Wings Coach Johnny Mouradian said.

Former Wings Brenden Thenhaus and Jamie Rooney got the Rock on the board early before the Wings scored four of the next five goals to take their only lead of the evening at 4-3 with just over five minutes to play in the first quarter. Toronto took over the game after that by not only outscoring the Wings 12-2 the remainder of the game but putting an exclamation on the night by shutting them out in the second half. That part did not sit well in the Philly locker room.

"Being held scoreless in a half of lacrosse is unacceptable," Wings forward Dan Dawson said. "Bottom line is we got outworked, we got outplayed and that is unacceptable. When they run you out of your own building like that it's pretty embarrassing."

Six different Wings scored goals in this game while Brandon Miller made 31 saves in the losing effort. Josh Sanderson led the Rock with a nine point night (3G, 6A) while Leblanc scored four goals and Billings added eight assists. Another former Wing was present as goalie Matt Roik made 38 stops in the Toronto goal.

The Wings will look to rebound next Sunday, while avoiding another home clunker, when they host the Buffalo Bandits.

"We're trying to establish something here at home and we haven't done it yet," Dan Dawson said.