Wednesday, July 23, 1997

 The Major Indoor Lacrosse League owners yesterday announced they have changed their ownership structure and expanded under a new name.

 When it begins play in January, the new National Lacrosse League, which formerly consisted of six individually operated teams under a single ownership, will now feature 10 to 12 individually owned and operated teams.

 The league headquarters will be in Buffalo.

 Location of all the new teams was not announced, but each of the existing six teams, including the Philadelphia Wings, is involved.

 The NLL will keep teams in the Baltimore-Washington area, Buffalo, New York (Long Island), Rochester, N.Y., and New England, and add teams in Hamilton, Ontario, and Syracuse, N.Y.

 Two to four more markets are expected to be added within a month. The restructured league plans to play from 14 to 20 games a team.

 Saturday, January 3, 1998

 by Edward Moran, Daily News Sports Writer

 It's hard to imagine the Wings ever playing without captain Scott Gabrielsen.

 For 92 straight games, Gabrielsen has been the heart and soul of the Wings. In 10 years, he has led them to four championships and set the team's hard-hitting, determined tone.

 The Wings, and professional lacrosse in general, have undergone some serious changes during the offseason. But for at least one more year, they will not have to suffer the loss of Gabrielsen.

 When the former Major Indoor Lacrosse League debuts as the National Lacrosse League, with individually owned teams replacing the single-ownership structure of the past, Gabrielsen will again lead the Wings. This year, however, when the Wings open their 12th season tomorrow in Buffalo, Gabrielsen will begin his final campaign as a professional lacrosse player.

 ``This is my last year,'' Gabrielsen said. ``Ten years is a good long career for me, it's an even number, and it's time to move on.''

 But before Gabrielsen leaves, he will attempt to lead the Wings through the first rebuilding effort they have ever had to face.

 The Wings have begun the process of replacing veterans with rookies and looking to the future after last year's 7-3 finish, the first time the team has lost three games in a season since 1992. They were eliminated in the playoff semifinals for the first time in six years.

 Gone is leading scorer Gary Gait, who asked to be traded to Baltimore so he could play in his hometown. In his wake, the Wings are looking to four rookies. To compensate for the loss of a big goal scorer, the Wings will have to develop a more balanced offense and lean more on goalie Dallas Eliuk and their four veteran defensive forwards, Brian Voelker, Adam Mueller, Steve Govett and Chris Flynn.

 ``This year will be a big change for us for the first time in years,'' Gabrielsen said. ``Our No. 1 scorer is no longer on the team and we're going to have to become a more rounded team. We will expect everyone on the roster to contribute. The grinders, like me, are going to have to put the ball in the net.

 ``We're basically going to try to emphasize defense. Keep teams from scoring and score a couple ourselves, that will be our main objective.''

 To help do that, the Wings will debut four new faces, including Jake Bergey, the son of former Eagles middle linebacker Bill Bergey. Bergey, a 6-foot, 205-pound attacker, was an All-America player for three years at Salisbury State College.

 ``He should make an immediate impact,'' Gabrielsen said. ``He's solid and fast and plays a well-rounded game.''

 Three other additions include Greg Traynor, 6-2, 190, a two-time All-America at the University of Virginia; David Stilley, 6-2, 215, of Philadelphia, who captained Duke; and Mike Busza, a 5-6 forward who played at Penn State for four years and was a 1995 All-America.

 ``This year we should have a nice blend of youth and experience,'' Gabrielsen said. ``We'll have guys who have won and know how to win and guys with a lot of desire. It should be a nice combination.''

Saturday, January 3, 1998

 By Gary Miles, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

 Even coach Tony Resch doesn't know what to expect tonight when the Wings open their National Lacrosse League season against the Buffalo Bandits at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo.

 After all, the Wings will be without Gary Gait, their all-star scorer who was traded to Baltimore in the off-season so he could play closer to home. They also will be playing in a new league with two expansion teams.

 So when Resch was asked yesterday to summarize his objectives for this season, he had trouble being specific.

 ``It's hard to predict what's going to happen,'' Resch said. ``We're still getting our bearings as to what kind of team we're going to be, where we stand. It may take some time for us to see just what we have.''

 One thing is certain: The Wings will rely on their defense to improve on last season's 7-3 record. With Gait and his incredible scoring touch out of the lineup, Resch said he will depend on goaltender Dallas Eliuk to keep the games close.

 ``That's one thing that I can depend on,'' Resch said. ``If we can play good defense in front of Dallas, we should be in pretty good shape. Where the goals will come from remains to be seen.''

 It's also a pretty good bet that no one player will step up and replace Gait. A prolific scorer whom Resch called the best player ever in the old Major Indoor Lacrosse League, Gait won games almost single-handedly last season. This season, Resch said, the Wings will rely on a handful of players to pick up the slack.

 ``You don't replace a Gary Gait with one or two or even three players,'' Resch said. ``But we look at it two ways. Yes, it's a big loss. But it's also an opportunity for other players to step up.''

 Two of the players Resch is counting on to score are 1997 all-stars Tom Marechek and Kevin Finneran. The pair complemented Gait well last season, and, along with touted rookie Ryan Trainer, will be required to do even more scoring this season.

 A newcomer who could help out is rookie Jake Bergey. Son of former Eagles star linebacker Bill Bergey, Jake is a 6-foot, 210-pounder who excelled at the outdoor game in high school and college.

 ``We're very happy to have Jake,'' Resch said. ``He's a fine player, but sometimes it takes time for guys to learn the indoor game. It's a lot different from the outdoor game. It's a learning experience on the job. So we expect some bumps along the road.''

 The Wings played 11 seasons in the Major Indoor Lacrosse League before the league reorganized and was renamed the National Lacrosse League. The NLL was formed during the summer, and two expansion teams - the Ontario Raiders and Syracuse Smash - were added.

 The Wings will play 12 games this season, and their home schedule begins Friday, Jan. 16, when they play host to the Baltimore Thunder and Gait, their former team captain. 

The Wings host the expansion teams in February (Syracuse Smash) and April (Ontario Raiders). The Rochester Knighthawks, last year's MILL champions, visit the CoreStates Center on March 28. 

Last season, the Wings failed to qualify for the MILL championship game for the first time in six years. But Resch, whose teams won titles in 1989, '90, '94 and '95, said he won't harp on that.

 ``Until we see what we have here, I won't dwell on that too much,'' Resch said. ``But we're raring to go. With all the changes we've been through, most of our excitement comes from the emotion of starting over.''

Monday, February 9, 1998

 The Philadelphia Wings got hat tricks from three players Saturday night en route to a 15-9, National Lacrosse League victory over Buffalo at the CoreStates Center.

 The Wings (5-1) were led by Tom Marechek, who had eight points (three goals, five assists). Marechek, who recorded his 100th career goal and his 200th career point, was named the game's MVP.

 The Wings' Adam Mueller and Kevin Finneran added three goals and two assists each in front of a crowd of 15,085.

 Darris Kilgour, who also scored three goals, led the Bandits (1-3).

 ``Great effort by everybody,'' said Wings coach Tony Resch. ``Tonight was a very strong win.''

 Philadelphia took an early three-goal lead and never trailed, taking a 9-3 halftime lead.

 The Bandits made a strong showing in the third period, scoring three unanswered goals to close to within 9-6, but the Wings' Chris Flynn sparked a four-goal run that put the game out of reach.

 ``It's always great to beat our archrival,'' Resch said. ``We put together offense and defense especially in the second half. We were able to answer their calls both times.''

 Wings captain Scott Gabrielsen was back in the lineup after missing the last two games. Prior to that he had played in a league-record 96 consecutive games over his 10 year career.

 The Wings received balanced scoring behind Marechek, Mueller and Finneran. Jake Bergey (goal, six assists) and Greg Traynor (five assists) combined for 12 points.

 The Wings will return to action on Friday when they host the Syracuse Smash at the CoreStates Center beginning at 7:30.

Monday, March 23, 1998

 The Philadelphia Wings' Scott Gabrielsen was being honored on Saturday night as the first pro indoor lacrosse player to participate in 100 games. He would probably have preferred that his team come away with a victory.

 The division-leading Wings (7-2) lost to the New York Saints, 15-14, in a National Lacrosse League game at the CoreStates Center that came right down to the end.

 The Wings, the only team to so far clinch a playoff spot, were led by Tom Marechek with four goals and three assists. For the Saints (4-6), Steve Sombrotto also had four goals and three assists.

 Philadelphia came out strong, scoring the game's first two goals, but the Saints came back with three unanswered goals. The game remained close until the third quarter, which the Saints dominated. They took a 14-8 lead into the fourth quarter.

 The Wings fought back with six goals, including the last four, to cut the deficit to one before time ran out.

 The Wings' next game will be Saturday night at home against the Rochester Knighthawks.

Friday, April 17, 1998

 by Edward Moran, Daily News Sports Writer

 Bill Bergey wore No. 66 for the Eagles for seven seasons.

 When he retired in 1982 and settled down in Chadds Ford, Chester County, to focus on raising his three boys - Jason, Jake and Josh - his every father's dream was to see one of them pull on a No. 66 jersey, walk on to a field and follow in his footsteps.

 Bergey's dream has come true. And this Saturday, when the Philadelphia Wings face the BuffaloBandits in a single-elimination National Lacrosse League playoff game at the CoreStates Center, Bergey will see that number and his son, Jake, compete for a championship.

 But this is not what Bergey envisioned in his dreams. What Bergey saw was a football uniform.

 ``Football was my way of life,'' Bill Bergey said. ``Everything I received, materialwise, came from football.''

 So Bergey wanted that way of life for at least one son. His first, Jason, carried the dream all the way to a scholarship at the University of Delaware. But it wasn't in his heart, no matter how hard his father pushed.

 ``He was supposed to be his father's dream,'' Bergey said. ``I kept trying to tell him all the right things. But he hated it. He finally called me and said `Dad, you just don't understand. I don't like it.''

 Jason, now 26, left the football program and went to excel for the school hockey team. Along the way, he quietly taught his father one of those lessons fathers only get the hard way: Kids will do what they want.

 So Bergey let his second son, Jake, pursue any sport he chose. Jake played football and lacrosse successfully in high school.

 But when the colleges came calling, Jake choose lacrosse.

 ``It was like a dagger in my heart,'' Bergey said. ``But I said to my wife, `I'll never make the same mistake twice.' ''

 So he gave Jake his blessing and his support.

 And Jake gave his father his dream, or at least part of it.

 After three years as an All-America at Salisbury State University in Maryland, Bergey was drafted by the Wings in the fifth round of the 1997 draft.

 ``Probably the greatest thing I have ever been given was when he decided to take my football number,'' Bergey said. ``He could have given me a million dollars and it wouldn't have meant as much.''

 Jake Bergey's first year in professional lacrosse has been a good one, for both Bergey and the Wings. He is not only a fan favorite, but the 6-foot attacker is third on the team in scoring with 38 points (20 goals, 18 assists) in 12 games.

 Bergey's play has helped the Wings to a first-place finish in the league with a 9-3 record, which has earned Philadelphia home-field advantage for the playoffs.

 ``It's been a great first year,'' he said. ``Being third in scoring on the team, and the team first in the league, what more could you ask for?''

 Playing in Philadelphia and having his father in the stands makes it all the more satisfying.

 ``My dad is my No. 1 fan,'' Jake said. ``It's always great having him up there. He's been up there for me my whole life.''

 There was a time when the situation was reversed, but Jake said he doesn't remember much about that.

 ``I was about 6, and I don't remember a lot,'' he said. ``I do remember the 1980 game against Dallas for the [NFC] championship. We were all excited for the win and we went down after the game and my dad picked me up and brought me in the locker room.''

 The NLL playoffs consist of two rounds, a single-elimination round, then a best-of-three series. The winner of Saturday's game will face the winner of the Baltimore-Rochester game.

 The Wings hold a 2-0 season advantage over the Bandits (6-6), who closed out the season with a three-game winning streak. The Wings finished their regular season with a 15-8 loss to the Ontario Raiders.

 ``We're coming off a tough loss,'' Jake Bergey said. ``But we had a good practice [Wednesday night] and we're all pumped up to bring the championship back to Philadelphia. We know we can do it.''

 The single-game elimination format has Bill Bergey worried. No one knows better than a professional football player about do-or-die playoff games.

 ``They scare me to death,'' said the elder Bergey. ``You win the two regular-season games and then comes the playoffs, and that third game is so hard to win. I'm the worst fan in the world, too. It eats away at me, because when I was playing, I could take it out on someone,'' Bergey said. ``But I get to watch my son do what he likes doing and that makes my heart go pitter-patter.''

 As for the football part of Bill Bergey's dream, he still has a third son. Josh, 19, has made a name for himself at his father's game and is heading for brother Jake's Salisbury State, where he has an opportunity to play both lacrosse and football.

 ``He'll probably have to focus on one,'' his father said. ``I hope it's football.''

Saturday, April 18, 1998

 By Pete Schnatz, FOR THE INQUIRER

 Bob and Brenda Tausendfreundt were relaxing in the new futon chairs they'd just won in a promotional giveaway, nibbling on hoagies and pizza, when howls joined the din of nonstop rock music.

 The crowd at the Philadelphia Wings game rose to cheer and jeer as two lacrosse players dropped their sticks and began whaling away at each other.

 Off to the Mayfair couple's right, a husky fellow wearing a silver hard hat and face paint stood and roared his approval. Across the way, a white-haired man whose fire-engine-red suspenders accentuated his 6-foot-5, 290-pound frame, yelled words of encouragement.

 While Bob Tausendfreundt jumped up like many in the raucous crowd of 13,000-plus, Brenda stayed seated. She was wondering how those futons would look in her home.

 It was a typical uproarious yet homey night at the CoreStates Center with the Wings - a sporting event with all the subtlety of TV's Jerry Springer Show. In fact, as the Wings host the Buffalo Bandits in a single-elimination league semifinal at 8 tonight, the team is promoting ``Jerry Springer Night'' and will show the host's outrageous video - tabbed too hot for TV - on the jumbo video screen after the game.

 *

Indoor, or box, lacrosse is no youngster-saturated spectacle such as those that take place across the parking lot at the CoreStates Spectrum, home of the Kixx and the Phantoms, as is evident when visiting players are greeted by a deafening one-word vulgarity.

 Members of the hometown Wings, on the other hand, are accorded the adoration of rock stars coming out to perform an encore.

 One of the loudest responses is reserved for a thick-necked, square-jawed phenomenon with a Philadelphia pedigree: Jake Bergey, son of ferocious former Eagles linebacker Bill Bergey.

 The goaltenders look like sumo wrestlers who got lost in the wardrobe tent of a Star Wars movie set, with chest protectors the size of a '57 Chevy's hood and bulky shoulder pads that would make Garth Snow blush.

 Penalties are few and far between. Crushing body blows and vicious whacks across the head and shoulders are the price for possessing the ball in the offensive zone.

 The unabashedly violent nature of the game, coupled with fast-paced action and scoring from seemingly impossible angles, keeps the fans fixated on the action.

 Marty Phelan of Norristown wasn't about to risk a trip to the concession stands while the game was under way: ``I was afraid if I went out to get a drink I might miss a goal or some nasty hits.''

 Along with all the sound and fury, some pretty impressive athletes are on display, among them high-scoring Kevin Finneran and Tom Marechek and dynamic goaltender Dallas Eliuk. They've led the Wings to a league-best record of 9-3 and have won four titles in the last decade.

 ``All these players are outstanding athletes, the best in the world in their sport,'' said coach Tony Resch. And they labor for relatively low salaries ranging from just $300 to $1,100 per game, so most have full-time jobs, in real estate, insurance, or coaching.

 While the remuneration isn't magnificent, the Wings' fan support is - the following the team has attracted verges on the fanatical. The franchise led the National Lacrosse League in attendance this season, averaging close to 15,000 for a six-game home schedule, with an impressive season-ticket base of 9,000. Most of the fans are young adults between the ages of 18 and 34, but some of the most demonstrative rooters are longtime veterans of the lacrosse wars.

 The two most notable are ``Chopper'' and ``Big Gabe.''

 Chopper is actually Jay Davidson, a 39-year-old plumber from Egg Harbor Township, who dons a hard hat, face paint, black-and-gray camouflage pants and a Wings jersey with his nickname and number 35 on the back. He attended his first game early in the 1986 season and has been absent just once since - the day he and his wife, Marian, who were engaged at a Valentine's Day game, were married.

 ``I guess you could call me a cheerleader or a rabble-rouser. I just love being here and seeing the guys,'' he said.

 While Chopper leads the fans on his side of the arena in spelling out W-I-N-G-S, his counterpart on the other side is just as animated.

 ``Big Gabe,'' the man in the red suspenders, is Bill Gabrielsen, 61, the father of veteran wings player Scott Gabrielsen. For the last 10 seasons, he has made the trek from his Vermont home to cheer for his son.

 The younger Gabrielsen calls his father ``an ambassador for the sport,'' and says that after scoring, he seeks out his father, as if to say, ``This one's for you.''

 Former Episcopal Academy star Gabby Roe, who has sat out the season with a hyperextended knee, describes some of the Wings' more fervent followers as ``lovable wackos.''

 ``It's almost like a cult following,'' Roe said. ``I don't know if many of our fans could tell you the rules, but they're dedicated, and we love them for their devotion.

 ``They don't feel like fans; they feel like they're part of the team, part of a family. Our games don't get much media exposure, but that doesn't seem to matter to our fans. It's like finding a nightclub that nobody knows about . . . once you go, you're hooked.''

 While players like Gabrielsen are basking in their final hurrahs, Bergey is establishing himself as a star on the rise, one with the winning touch.

 ``My first year at the Tatnall School,'' he recalled, ``we won the [Delaware] state championship. My first year at Salisbury State, we won the Division III national championship.

 ``Wouldn't it be great to win the league title in my first year as a pro?''

 Bergey gave the fans a double treat last Saturday night against Ontario, following up his power-play goal by pummeling an opponent.

 While his father, who attends every home and away game, may have appreciated the physicality of the family's newest number 66, the fight cost him an ejection and required an explanation to his mother.

 ``That was horrible for me. I had never seen any of my [three] boys behave that way,'' said Micky Bergey. ``Especially Jake. He's usually so mild-mannered.''

 Jake, who still lives at home with his parents, gave an aw-shucks shrug when telling his side of the fracas. ``But Mom, he kept poking me and poking me.''

 His play electrified the crowd, but it wasn't until after the game that Bergey provided his biggest lift. Walking through the near-deserted corridor, he took time to greet a female fan. 

After a brief conversation, Bergey gave the girl a gentle hug, leaving the 15-year-old flashing a smile that exposed her glistening braces.

 ``I'm just an average guy - it means a lot to the fans when you stop and sign autographs,'' Bergey said. ``But it means a lot to us, too.''

Monday, April 27, 1998

 by Leigh Primavera, Daily News Sports Writer

 What a difference a year makes.

 If this had been last season, the Wings would be the National Lacrosse League champions today thanks to their 16-12 win over the Baltimore Thunder yesterday.

 Unfortunately, this year the NLL has gone to a best-of-three series format and it will take one more victory for the Wings to be crowned the best.

 The Wings' victory gave them a 1-0 lead in the series, which continues tomorrow night in Baltimore.

 Yesterday, in front of 9,860 fans at the CoreStates Center, the Wings jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a goal by Greg Traynor.

 Baltimore retaliated with a goal by Matt Shearer and two by Gary Gait. Gait would score a hat trick on the day.

 Gait played for Philadelphia for six seasons; he was first team All Pro from 1991 to '97 and League MVP from 1995 to '97. He initiated a trade with Baltimore in mid-December and since then has been named the NLL's 1998 MVP for the Thunder.

 ``We're a team that's very balanced. We don't have a person like Baltimore does, where Baltimore is Gary Gait,'' said Matt Ogelsby. ``Everyone has a role on the Wings. If we can contain Gait to three goals or less we're going to win. My first priority was to look for Gait and contain him.''

 Philadelphia fell behind, 4-1, before Ogelsby and Greg Traynor scored first-period goals to close the gap to 4-3 going into the second quarter.

 ``I think in the first half we were taking ill-advised shots,'' Ogelsby said. ``In the second half we passed the ball around a lot and tired out their defense.''

 Baltimore opened the second quarter with a goal by Bob Martino, but the Wings answered with consecutive goals by Bill Miller, Tom Marechek, Michael Busza and Steve Govett. Baltimore added one more before Kevin Finneran's goal topped off the half to put Philadelphia ahead, 8-6.

 Both teams began showing signs of frustration at the start of the third period. Wings goalie Dallas Eliuk was called for slashing, which put him in the penalty box and back-up Mark Piazza into the net.

 ``I was sick and tired of players taking liberties in my crease so I gave them what they had coming,'' Eliuk said. ``I'd do it again.''

 Miller immediately scored a shorthanded goal for the Wings, but Baltimore quickly took advantage of the situation, using goals by Tim Hormes and Chris Panos to close the gap to 9-8.

 Baltimore would remain scoreless for the rest of the period. Eliuk, who made 36 saves and was named the game MVP, turned away shot after shot.

 ``Dallas had some huge saves,'' Wings coach Tony Resch said. ``A number of people stepped forward and made great plays.''

 Two more goals by Ogelsby and another by Finneran gave the Wings a 12-8 lead after third quarter.

 Gait opened up the scoring for Baltimore in the fourth with what would be his final goal of the day.  

``We sent a fresh guy to cover Gait throughout the game and by the end of the game he started to get very frustrated. We wore him down,'' said Scott Gabrielsen.

 Although Baltimore was able to rally to within one goal in the fourth quarter, the final three goals by Miller, Finneran and Jake Bergey gave the Wings the win.

 ``We're very excited to get the first win,'' said Resch. ``We feel very confident in the 17 players who dress for every game.''

Monday, April 27, 1998

 By Pete Schnatz, FOR THE INQUIRER

 The Wings welcomed back a familiar face to the CoreStates Center yesterday for the opening game of the National Lacrosse League championship series.

 But when Gary Gait, the Wings' all-time leading scorer and three-time league most valuable player, stepped onto the turf, he was greeted by a crowd of 9,860 in full throat and ready to tear the garish black, red and yellow Baltimore Thunder jersey from his back.

 Wings goalie Dallas Eliuk treated him with even less respect.

 Despite a hot start in which Gait cashed in on two of his first six shots, the league scoring champion was effectively contained by Eliuk and a squadron of defenders, allowing the Wings to pull out a 16-12 victory and take a huge step toward the franchise's fifth crown.

 Game 2 of the best-of-three series is set for tomorrow night in Baltimore.

 On the chalkboard in the Wings' locker room before the game, coach Tony Resch scrawled a simple order: ``Cut off the head - make Gaiter work!''

 Resch and practically everyone in that room knew Gait's capabilities, having played, practiced and shared long bus rides with the man who, after last season, demanded a trade to the Maryland franchise to be closer to his family and friends.

 While his departure depleted the Wings' arsenal, Gait's arrival in Baltimore transformed the Thunder - the lowest-scoring and losingest team in the league last season - into the highest-scoring squad with a regular-season record second only to the Wings'.

 Gait, with an average of slightly fewer than five goals per game, dealt three assists and was limited to three goals on 16 shots yesterday. He knew it could have been more, if not for the play of Philadelphia's goalie.

 ``Dallas was the difference,'' Gait conceded with a smile. ``We should have had five or six more, but he was unbelievable.''

 Eliuk stopped 34 of the 45 shots he faced, with one of the Baltimore goals coming while he was in the penalty box serving a slashing minor.

 Eliuk's defining moment came in the late stages of the third period, when he turned aside a half-dozen shots with a flurry of magnificent, acrobatic saves that brought the crowd to its feet.

Riding the momentum, Matt Ogelsby followed the final stop by scooping up the loose ball and scoring a fastbreak goal that put the Wings up, 12-8, heading into the fourth quarter. 

``That was the killer right there. That we were able to come back and score off a big defensive effort was really gratifying,'' Eliuk said.

 In answering coach Resch's call to step up their efforts, Ogelsby and Bill Miller each contributed three goals and two assists. The usual offensive sparks, Kevin Finneran (three goals, four assists), Greg Traynor (two, four) and Tom Marechek (two, two), came through after Baltimore registered four of the first five goals of the game.

Wednesday, April 29, 1998

 by Leigh Primavera, Daily News Sports Writer

 It's not exactly a parade on Broad Street, but there will be at least one championship celebration for a Philadelphia team this spring.

 The Wings made sure of that last night by beating the Baltimore Thunder, 17-12, to sweep the best-of-three final series for the National Lacrosse League Championship Cup in front of 3,137 mostly Wings fans at the Baltimore Arena.

 The team will commemorate the crown with a celebration party Friday at The Lagoon restaurant in Essington.

 Bill Miller, who scored eight goals in the regular season, had a hat trick and two assists for the Wings and was named the game's most valuable player. He also had three goals in Game 1.

 ``I had to make the last two games count,'' he said. ``In the big games, the best scorers tend to be shut down, so I had to step up my game.''

 Other key scorers for the Wings were Tom Marechek (three goals and five assists) and Kevin Finneran (two goals, four assists), who broke a 12-12 tie in the fourth quarter.

 Former Wing Gary Gait had two goals and three assists to lead Baltimore.

 ``The league is so competitive, and on any given night teams can have a great night,'' said Wings captain Scott Gabrielsen, who will be retiring with his fifth lacrosse championship ring (it was known as the Major Indoor Lacrosse League for the first four). ``Baltimore's a competitive team, but when it came to gut-check time, we had it.''

 Wings coach Tony Resch wore a Mr. Potato Head tie. He must have known that his players would come to Game 2 wearing a variety of game faces in the contest marked by surges for both teams.

 The Wings struck first with an unassisted goal by Pete Jacobs 2:21 into the game. In typical fashion, Jacobs celebrated by climbing up the wall behind Baltimore goalie Derek Collins.

 Marechek, Jacobs and Gabrielsen combined to advance Philadelphia's lead to 4-0 before Gait's power-play, sidearm shot gave Baltimore its first score.

 Gait struck again, and Andy Ross' breakaway goal trimmed Philadelphia's lead to one goal before Miller closed out the scoring in the first quarter with the Wings ahead, 5-3.

 The Wings opened the second quarter with four unanswered goals, two by Steve Govett and two more by Miller to make it 9-3.

 Sean Radenbaugh, who had three goals, delivered Baltimore's first goal in more than 10 minutes thanks to a rocket pass from Gait. Tim Hormes added another for the Thunder, which changed goaltenders from Collins to Shane Twomey.

 ``The goaltending was really the big difference between the two teams,'' said Baltimore coach John Tucker. ``We got ourselves in a big hole right away.''

 The change sparked the Thunder to strike first in the third with a shot by Chris Panos, and Baltimore went on to wipe out the entire six-goal deficit and tie the game, 10-10, on a shorthanded goal by Panos.

 ``I'm not sure if it's a matter of us falling asleep or them stepping it up,'' said Wings goalie Dallas Eliuk, who stopped 39 shots and was named the series MVP. ``But our guys put on a show when it counted most.''

 The lead would shift until late in the fourth when Finneran put the Wings ahead, 13-12.

 Gabrielsen then scored and Finneran scored again to clear the Wings' bench in a hugging celebration. Goals by Ryan Traynor and Marechek iced it.

 ``I can feel the excitement,'' Wings president Russ Cline said. ``It's just so sweet.''

Wednesday, April 29, 1998

 By Steven Kivinski, FOR THE INQUIRER

 The Wings captured the National Lacrosse League championship last night before 3,137 fans at the Baltimore Arena.

 And not only did they do it without Gary Gait, they did it against him. Gait, who demanded to be traded to the Baltimore Thunder this season, could only watch as the Wings went into their championship celebration after the 17-12 victory.

 Wings all-pro goalie Dallas Eliuk came through once again, and his 39 stops helped him earn championship series MVP.

 The Wings also won the championship in 1989, '90, '94 and '95.

 Billy Miller, who scored just eight goals during the entire regular season, registered three goals and two assists and was named the game's MVP.

 ``There were certainly some question marks when you lose a player who is maybe the best player of all time in Gary Gait, but from the minute we knew he was leaving, we tried to turn his departure into an opportunity for a lot of people,'' said Wings coach Tony Resch.

 ``No one guy was certainly going to replace him but if we got a number of different people stepping forward, like we did tonight, I knew we would be successful.''

 The Wings put the game away by closing out the fourth quarter with a five-goal run. 

Kevin Finneran scored what proved to be the game-winner on a feed from Tom Marechek with 10 minute, 8 seconds remaining.

 Finneran finished the night with two goals and four assists and Marechek ended up with three goals and four assists.

 The Wings opened the second quarter as they did the first, scoring four straight goals and taking a 9-3 lead.

 Chris Bates gave the Wings a one-goal lead heading into the final quarter by scooping up a loose ball near the crease and putting a shot past Thunder goalie Shane Twomey with no time left on the clock.

Tuesday, May 5, 1998

 By Ira Josephs, INQUIRER CORRESPONDENT

 The National Lacrosse League's giant, silver-plated championship cup was perched on a table next to the field.

 A handful of Philadelphia Wings chatting on the sideline were warmly greeted by Mayor Rendell of Philadelphia, who was there to present the team with the trophy and watch the ensuing Inter-Academic League game between Episcopal Academy and visiting Penn Charter.

 Before the television cameras could roll and the photos could be shot on Saturday, Paul O'Grady, Episcopal's assistant coach, and Tony Resch, Penn Charter's head coach, had to be called away from their school teams. Resch is also the Wings' head coach, and O'Grady is a Wings player.

 Rounding up many of the Wings' other players and coaches wouldn't be as easy. They were on other high school fields around the area, preparing their own lacrosse teams for games.

 John Nostrant, the Haverford School head coach, is a Wings assistant who played five years with the Wings and three years with the Baltimore Thunder. He was guiding his team into Inter-Ac battle against visiting Malvern Prep. Wings player Ryan Traynor is a Malvern assistant.

 Radnor was visiting Ridley in a matchup of Central League teams, so head coach Mike Busza and assistant coach Jake Bergey of Radnor - both Wings players - couldn't attend the championship ceremony.

 Likewise, Kevin Finneran, another Wings player, was missing. Finneran is the first-year coach at Shipley, and his team was scheduled to play host to Perkiomen School.

 Furthermore, Paul Deniken, another Wings player, is an assistant girls' coach at West Chester East, and Wings teammate Chris Bates is an assistant coach at Drexel University.

 In the tight-knit world of lacrosse, coaching high school is as meaningful as playing or coaching professionally in front of 15,000 fans at the CoreStates Center. Maybe more meaningful. 

The Wings wrapped up their best-of-three championship series on April 28 with a victory in Baltimore. Nostrant was there, but he has no doubt where he would have been if his Fords had been scheduled to play the same day.

 ``If I had a game Tuesday, I wouldn't have gone with the Wings, and Tony [Resch] knows that,'' Nostrant said. ``The kids are still learning. You are trying to teach them the things they need to be competitive. We are at a point where we want to give back.''

 Episcopal has the strongest connection to the Wings. Not only is O'Grady an assistant coach and a teacher of world history in seventh and eighth grades at the school, but graduates Chris Flynn (Class of 1984), Gabby Roe (1987) and Bill Miller (1987) are members of the Wings.

 ``I think probably the start of Episcopal lacrosse dates back to when Fitz Eugene Dixon owned the original Wings,'' said John Wynne, Episcopal's head coach. ``When the first Wings [franchise] folded, up to half of their equipment came to Episcopal. I still have the big play board hanging in my office.''

 The play board is one thing, and the players are another.

 ``It's nice for the kids on their weekends to go down and watch,'' Wynne said. ``The only local professionals you can go see that are Episcopal graduates are lacrosse players.''

 O'Grady, a 1985 Haverford School graduate, is in his third year as an assistant at Episcopal.

 ``Lacrosse is a small world,'' he said. ``People are interested in giving back, and the players are interested in coming back and helping. Lacrosse has done a lot for all of us. 

``I think the kids enjoy it. They enjoy watching me get beat on and then beating on other guys. Whenever I look in the stands, I see a familiar face, whether it's a parent or someone I coach or used to coach.''

 Busza, a 1991 graduate of Ridley and a former all-American at Penn State, is the second-year head coach at Radnor and a Wings rookie.

 Bergey, son of Bill Bergey, a former all-pro linebacker for the Eagles, joined him on the Radnor coaching staff this season.

 ``It's great,'' said Stephen Elliott, a Radnor cocaptain. ``We go down and watch them.''

 ``It's neat how they are superstars. I was walking with `Buzz,' and a teacher asked if he could get autographs from the team. Lacrosse is an up-and-coming sport, and they are two superstars right there. They are top-notch.''

 But they don't think of themselves as stars. They're more interested in watching the game grow and the players develop.

 ``I had such a rewarding high school career,'' Busza said. ``I want to give something back to the game.''