DENVER, CO - In a tough, physical game between a battle of two undefeated teams, the Philadelphia Wings defeated the Colorado Mammoth by a score of 15-13 at Pepsi Center in Denver, CO.  The Wings own “AI”, Athan Iannucci, scored five goals in the game as the Wings improved to 4-0 on the season.  The Wings will face the National Lacrosse League’s only other undefeated team, the Minnesota Swarm (6-0) in their next game on Friday, February 22 at Wachovia Center. 

            “Although I wasn’t happy with our start, I’m proud of how our team battled back,” said Head Coach Dave Huntley.  “I think we saw some of the effects of having two weeks off at the start tonight, but this team really showed some poise in the second half.”

            Philadelphia got off to a slow start in the first quarter only scoring two goals and amassing 12 minutes of penalties. After Wings’ rookie Merrick Thomson scored the first goal of the game, Colorado scored five straight, including two power play goals and a goal scored on a penalty shot by Gavin Prout.  Thomson scored his second with just :40 left in the first, but Colorado held a 5-2 lead after the first quarter.

Iannucci started the scoring in the second with a dramatic diving goal across the crease.  The Wings continued to chip away at the Mammoth’s lead, scoring three more goals during the quarter to Colorado’s two to bring the Wings within one goal (7-6) going into halftime.

The Wings tied up the game in the third when Jake Bergey scored his first of the night but the Mammoth took the lead just :25 later when they scored two goals just :20 apart and continued to outpace the Wings to hold a 12-10 lead at the end of three. 

A fourth quarter surge saw the Wings outscore the Mammoth 5-1 in the final 15 minutes of play.  Colorado held the lead until the Iannucci scored his fourth goal of the night to tie the game at 13.  Philadelphia took the lead for the first time since the first quarter when Iannucci scored his fifth of the night, the game winning goal for the Wings.

            Leading the Wings in scoring were Athan Iannucci with eight points (5G, 3A), Merrick Thomson with five points (3G, 2A), Jake Bergey with five points (2G, 3A), Jamie Rooney with four points (2G, 2A), Jason Crosbie and Geoff Snider each with three points (1G, 2A), and Rob Van Beek with one goal.  Goaltender Rob Blasdell had 47 saves on the night.

            Leading the Mammoth in scoring were Dan Carey with six points (3G, 3A), Jamie Shewchuk with five points (3G, 2A), Gavin Prout with five points (2G, 3A), Jason Wulder with five points (1G, 4A), Jason Bloom, Brian Langtry, and Josh Sims all with two points (1G, 1A), and Jed Prossner with one goal.  Goaltender Gee Nash had 36 saves on the night.

            For a box score from tonight’s game logon to www.pointstreak.com.

Notes:  Defenseman Taylor Wray did not make the trip to Colorado due to work commitments ... Fans are encouraged to wear red to Friday night's game against the Swarm to support the Wings who will be wearing their red jerseys for the first time this season.