 |
| Callum Crawford (98) scored three goals, including the
game-winner in overtime, for the Black Wolves over the Philadelphia Wings. |
Photos by Bill Harper
UNCASVILLE—The New
England Black Wolves defeated the Philadelphia Wings 8-7 at the Mohegan Sun
Arena on Saturday night. Callum
Crawford led his team with three goals, including the game-winner, to
keep the Wolves undefeated and first in the East Division. It was the Black Wolves’
first overtime game of the season. The last time the Black Wolves saw overtime
was in 2018 when they defeated the Calgary at home 13-12.
The Black
Wolves jumped out to a 2-1 lead in the first quarter. Dave Emala found
a cutting Stephan Leblanc to put the Pack up 1-0. Crawford netted in his
first of the game on a fast break set up by Brett Manney and
Mackenzie Mitchell. But the Wings responded in the second stanza with four
unanswered goals to grab a 5-2 lead. Former Black Wolf Kevin Crowley, Alex
Pace, Blaze Riorden and Matt Rambo all scored for Philly. The Wings entered the
locker room leading 27-22 in shots and 3-1 in caused turnovers at intermission,
while the Black Wolves led 34-24 in loose balls and 23-20 in saves.
New England opened the
second half with a 3-0 run to even the game at 5-5. Crawford grabbed his second
goal of the night on a toss from rookie Andrew Kew. Joe
Resetarits followed up with a strong cut
down the center and nailed one past Zach Higgins in the net. Tony Malcom was
able to hit the next goal in transition to tie things up.
The second half proved a battle as Philadelphia answered back
with a goal from Rambo before Reilly O’Connor scooped one up and in over
Higgins and evened the score at six.
Resetarits evened the score for the
last time in the fourth quarter when he netted his second of the game and seventh for New England.
Twelve seconds remained in regulation with the score level at
seven a piece. Philadelphia had the ball in its possession but was unable to
convert any shots.
 |
| New England’s Joe Resetarits (15) scored one of his two tallies to cut the Wings’ lead to one goal in the third quarter. |
Both
teams spent much of the overtime period exchanging the ball and matching each other shot for shot. Fortunately for the Black Wolves, Crawford slid his way
around two Wings defenders and past Higgins in the upper right corner to
give New England the victory.
New
England finished the contest with 55 shots, 76 loose balls and three caused
turnovers. Malcom led both sides with 12 loose balls for a new career high. He
now has a team-high 38 loose balls this season. Joe Nardella went 5-of-19 from
the faceoff circle and Doug Jamieson racked up 50 saves in the net.
Philadelphia
totaled 57 shots, 59 loose balls and caused six turnovers. On the faceoff,
Trevor Baptiste went 14 for 19 and Higgins stopped 47 shots.
The 4-0 Black Wolves return to action on Sunday, Jan. 26, when
they will host the Georgia Swarm at the Mohegan Sun Arena for a 1 p.m. contest.
Mascots from around the region will be on hand
and kids are invited to come on the field after the game to take a shot on
goal.
Game Leaders:
NE: Stephan Leblanc
1G, 3A, 4P, C. Crawford 3G, J. Resetarits 2G
PHL: M. Rambo 3G, K. Crowley 1G, 2A 3, B.
Riorden 1G, 1A, 2P, C. Vitarelli 2A
—Staff Reports
@neblackwolves / #neblackwolves / #BlackWolves / #NLL /
@NLL
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