ROCK HOLD OFF WINGS
April 22, 2000
Box Score
TORONTO, ONTARIO -- It was a far cry from last year’s NLL
Semi-Final playoff game between the two teams, but the end result
was the same. The Toronto Rock got an early fourth quarter four-goal
outburst in just over two minutes to pull past the visiting
Philadelphia Wings 14-10 this afternoon in Maple Leaf Gardens and
advance to their second straight National Lacrosse League
Championship Game.
The win was the fifth in a row for Toronto, who never trailed in
the game. The Rock had beaten the Wings in Toronto 13-2 in a semi-final
playoff game last year to advance to the title game, which they
won over Rochester, who they’ll face for the NLL Champion’s
Cup. The Knighthawks, like last year, won on the road to move on
to face the Rock. Rochester beat the Bandits 15-11 in Buffalo
last night.
Today’s game began as though it was going to be a repeat of
last April’s contest between the two teams when Dan Stroup
scored at 2:22 of the second quarter to put Toronto up by a
commanding 5-1 lead. But, Philadelphia battled back, outscoring
the defending NLL champs 6-2 to tie the game at seven on a Jason
Clark power play goal at 12:32 of the third. Four different Rock
players responded with goals to start the final 15 minutes of
play, however, to send Toronto on their way to their 14th win in
15 games at MLG.
Toronto captain Jim Veltman was named the Game MVP for his one
goal and five assists. He also had 17 loose balls. The Wings were
led offensively with five-point performances by Kevin Finneran (3+2)
and Mark Millon (1+4).
The 2000 Championship Game will mark the first time since 1994 (Buffalo-Philly)
that the same two teams have faced other two years in a row in
pro indoor lacrosse’s title game.