Phillylacrosse.com, posted 2/3/12
After a huge 13-10 win at Buffalo last Friday, the Philadelphia Wings (2-1) return to Wells Fargo Center Saturday to take on the 2011 National Lacrosse League champion Toronto Rock (2-2) at 7 p.m.
Both teams are riding waves of momentum, as the Wings are off to their best start in four years and the Rock rebounded from two early season losses to even their record with two big wins last week.
The Wings enter the game on a two-game winning streak, after outscoring the Buffalo Bandits 6-1 in the fourth quarter en route to a 13-10 road victory last Friday and sit atop the East Division standings at 2-1. The Wings were led by forward Dan Dawson with seven assists and a goal and Brendan Mundorf who netted three goals and four assists.
“We’re really excited to play last year’s champs,” said Wings Head Coach Johnny Mouradian. “They’ve been on top the last few years. We are playing at a level where we are dangerous as long as we keep to our game plans and strategies.”
Mouradian credits a better familiarity with the personnel and a tight-knit locker room as reasons for the Wings’ two-game win streak following their deflating opening-night loss to Rochester 22-12.
“Our locker room is a very special place to be right now,” said Mouradian. “When you’re involved in a locker room where there’s that championship mentality it goes a long way and we know it.”
After taking home the Champion’s Cup last year, the Rock opened the 2012 season with two consecutive losses before winning 13-11 versus the Rochester Knighthawks last Friday and 14-13 in Calgary on Saturday.
The Rock have been paced by Garrett Billings (7 goals, 13 assists) and Josh Sanderson (7 goals, 12 assists) thus far this season and are well aware that this isn’t the same Philadelphia Wings squad they defeated in two out of three games last season.
“We know how much they have improved from last year by landing the big fish in Dawson and landing the consensus the number one pick,” said Toronto Rock Assistant Coach Terry Sanderson. “It’s made us take note that Philadelphia is among the league’s best teams.”
Tickets to all Wings home games can be purchased at WingsLAX.com or by phone at 215-389-WING.
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