Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 1/19/13
Drew Westervelt scored the game-winner with 10 seconds left to lift the visiting Philadelphia Wings to a stunning 8-7 National Lacrosse League win over the Toronto Rock, 8-7, tonight at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto in their first road game of the season.
After trailing the entire game, the Wings used a five-goal fourth period that included two goals from Kevin Crowley and one each from Joel White and Kevin Ross. The Wings finished with a 4-0 run, tying it with 3:14 left on Crowley’s goal.
Crowley ended the night with three goals and two assists, for five points while Wings Captain Brodie Merrill, who was named NLL Transition Player of the Week, chipped in with a goal and ten loose balls.
Netminder Brandon Miller’s solid play in goal kept the Wings within striking distance throughout the game. Miller ended the game with 53 saves on 60 shots, for a 88% save rate.
Going into the game, Toronto was 2-0, having won twice on the road to start the season. The Rock were led by Colin Doyle and Garret Billings, who each had four points. The Wings begin the season 2-0 for the first time since the 2008 season.
The Wings will travel to Buffalo next weekend for a re-match against the Bandits, who the Wings beat 13-8 in Philadelphia’s home opener last weekend, before returning to Wells Fargo Center on a quick turnaround to play the Calgary Roughnecks the next day on Sunday, January 27. The game will feature a salute to American Heroes and a jersey auction to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project.
