A disappointing end to a disappointing season

By Tom Hoffman

The Philadelphia Wings closed out their worst season since the National Lacrosse League schedule went to 16 games Friday night falling to the Orlando Titans 11-5 before a sparse gathering announced at 8,656 at the Wachovia Center. The Wings looked like a team that was eliminated from playoff contention as their effort in the season finale was quite sluggish and uninspired.

Actually neither team looked like they wanted to be playing as the first half was listless, the teams tied at two after the first 15 minutes and still tied, this time three all, at halftime. Philly was lucky to be tied at half as the Titans were outshooting them 30-24 in the first half. The third quarter was where the game began to fall apart for the Wings as Orlando, behind Game MVP Casey Powell, outscored the Wings 4-0 and held a 15-9 shot advantage. Powell scored three of the four Titan goals in the third while adding his third assist of the night on Tim O'Brien's fourth quarter goal that gave the Titans a 9-3 lead and sent may of the Wings fans to the exits. The teams split the game's final four goals but the clock finally ran out on a Wings Season many would like to forget.

Drew Westervelt led the Wings puny offense with a pair of goals and an assist while Brandon Miller made 43 saves. The Titans, playing back to back games this weekend and heading to Minnesota Saturday, gave Matt Vinc the night off and Kurtis Wagar responded with a 40 save performance. For the Wings, a long offseason now begins and it's an offseason of much uncertainty. Not exactly how they wanted to head into the franchise's 25th season. The final record of 5-11 is the teams fewest wins in a 16 game season and their fewest since going 5-7 in 1999