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.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
2012 Wings Lacrosse (2-4-12 vs. Toronto)
by Tom Hoffman
As they reach the season’s quarter point, the Philadelphia Wings will look to extend their winning streak to three games when they host the defending NLL Champion Toronto Rock Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Center. Game time is at 7 PM and can be seen on the NLL Network at NLL.com and ESPN 3 and will be broadcast on Z88.9 (Burlington County College) and online at www.z889.org.
History
The Wings are 10-21 all time against the Rock including their initial season in Hamilton, Ontario in 1998. The Wings are 7-10 at home vs. Toronto. In 2011 the Rock won the season series 2-1. Toronto took the first two games winning 16-13 on February 26 in Philadelphia and 15-10 on March 4 in Toronto. The third matchup went to the Wings 12-11 on April 2 at the Wells Fargo Center after the Wings outscored Toronto 6-1 in the fourth quarter.
Last Game
Brendan Mundorf and Drew Westervelt combined for seven goals as the Wings defeated the Buffalo Bandits last Friday at Buffalo’s First Niagara Center. Dan Dawson had seven assists while Brandon Miller made 30 saves in net. The Wings trailed 9-7 entering the fourth quarter and scored the game’s last four goals while shutting out the Bandits over the last 9:13 of play.
The Opponent
The Rock won twice last weekend to improve to a 2-2 record in 2012. Last Friday they defeated the Rochester Knighthawks 13-11 and then went to Calgary on Saturday and defeated the Roughnecks in overtime 14-13 on a goal by Cam Woods. Former Wing Matt Roik (2006-2007) has an 11.89 GAA for the Rock while Garrett Billings (7-13-20) and Josh Sanderson (7-12-19) lead the Toronto offense
Familiar Faces
In addition to Roik, other former Wings on the Toronto roster include Jamie Rooney and Brenden Thenhaus, both played for the Wings in 2008. Current Wing Mike Hominuck played for the Rock in 2010.
Notes and Stuff
On March 5, 2008 the Wings sent Matt Roik to the Chicago Shamrox as part of a deal that brought Brandon Miller to the Wings. Roik served as the #3 goaltender (behind Bob Watson and Anthony Cosmo) in 2001 after being drafted in the 9th round in 1999 by Toronto.
On this date
This will be the first time the Wings have ever played on February 4 in their history.
Stats
The Wings record at the season quarter mark the last 5 years:
2011: 2-2
2010: 1-3
2009: 1-3
2008: 4-0
2007: 2-2
Next Game
The Wings will be home on February 12 when they host the Buffalo Bandits.
As they reach the season’s quarter point, the Philadelphia Wings will look to extend their winning streak to three games when they host the defending NLL Champion Toronto Rock Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Center. Game time is at 7 PM and can be seen on the NLL Network at NLL.com and ESPN 3 and will be broadcast on Z88.9 (Burlington County College) and online at www.z889.org.
History
The Wings are 10-21 all time against the Rock including their initial season in Hamilton, Ontario in 1998. The Wings are 7-10 at home vs. Toronto. In 2011 the Rock won the season series 2-1. Toronto took the first two games winning 16-13 on February 26 in Philadelphia and 15-10 on March 4 in Toronto. The third matchup went to the Wings 12-11 on April 2 at the Wells Fargo Center after the Wings outscored Toronto 6-1 in the fourth quarter.
Last Game
Brendan Mundorf and Drew Westervelt combined for seven goals as the Wings defeated the Buffalo Bandits last Friday at Buffalo’s First Niagara Center. Dan Dawson had seven assists while Brandon Miller made 30 saves in net. The Wings trailed 9-7 entering the fourth quarter and scored the game’s last four goals while shutting out the Bandits over the last 9:13 of play.
The Opponent
The Rock won twice last weekend to improve to a 2-2 record in 2012. Last Friday they defeated the Rochester Knighthawks 13-11 and then went to Calgary on Saturday and defeated the Roughnecks in overtime 14-13 on a goal by Cam Woods. Former Wing Matt Roik (2006-2007) has an 11.89 GAA for the Rock while Garrett Billings (7-13-20) and Josh Sanderson (7-12-19) lead the Toronto offense
Familiar Faces
In addition to Roik, other former Wings on the Toronto roster include Jamie Rooney and Brenden Thenhaus, both played for the Wings in 2008. Current Wing Mike Hominuck played for the Rock in 2010.
Notes and Stuff
On March 5, 2008 the Wings sent Matt Roik to the Chicago Shamrox as part of a deal that brought Brandon Miller to the Wings. Roik served as the #3 goaltender (behind Bob Watson and Anthony Cosmo) in 2001 after being drafted in the 9th round in 1999 by Toronto.
On this date
This will be the first time the Wings have ever played on February 4 in their history.
Stats
The Wings record at the season quarter mark the last 5 years:
2011: 2-2
2010: 1-3
2009: 1-3
2008: 4-0
2007: 2-2
Next Game
The Wings will be home on February 12 when they host the Buffalo Bandits.
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