Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 2/14/10
From Press Releases
The return of John Tavares on Saturday night helped the Buffalo Bandits rebound from an early deficit and gain a needed win while dropping the host Philadelphia Wings even further down the National Lacrosse League ladder.
Tavares, the NLL’s all-time leading scorer, played his first game of the season after missing six games with a calf injury. He had two goals and four assists in his return as the Bandits defeated the Wings, 13-11, before 7,723 at the Wachovia Center.
The Bandits climbed out of the Eastern Division cellar at 2-5. Philadelphia fell to 1-5 with its fourth straight defeat.
Mark Steenhuis led the Bandits with two goals and six assists while Brent Bucktooth, Kevin Dostie and Frank Resetarits each added two goals for Buffalo. Kyle Wailes led the Wings with four goals and three assists, while Geoff Snider added three goals and won 11 of 15 face-offs.
Also for the Wings, Drew Westervelt had a goal and two assists, Max Seibald had a goal and an assist in his first home game and John Christmas (Lower Merion) returned to the lineup after more than a year off with a goal and an assist.
Philadelphia stormed to a 5-0 lead in the first seven minutes of the contest on three goals by Wailes and two by Snyder. The outburst chased starting goalie Mike Thompson, who was replaced by rookie Angus Goodleaf (37 saves).
The Bandits came back to narrow the margin to 5-4 by the end of the first period, and were tied, 7-7, at halftime. Two Bucktooth goals helped give Buffalo a 10-8 after 45 minutes. Tavares scored both of his goals in the fourth quarter to keep the Wings at bay.
Brandon Miller had 36 saves in goal for the Wings.
