PHILADELPHIA – Kevin Crowley played like the No. 1 overall pick in the National Lacrosse League draft.
Crowley, who the Philadelphia Wings selected in the 2011 NLL entry draft, scored five goals including the game-winner three minutes and 27 seconds into overtime to lead the Wings to a 10-9 victory over the Washington Stealth on Saturday.
Crowley got the Wings rolling early, scoring three goals in the first period as Philadelphia took a 3-0 lead.
“He’s a force, we knew that coming in,” said Stealth assistant coach Art Webster, who is filling in for head coach Chris Hall while Hall battles cancer.
Crowley’s game-winning goal in overtime came when he picked up a loose ball and put a shot past Stealth goalkeeper Tyler Richards. Webster said the Stealth defense needed to be more aware of where Crowley was on the floor.
“We have to identify who is there fishing for the ball,” Webster said. “It could have been anyone else but him. It was a great shot.”
Trailing 3-0 entering the second period, the Stealth bounced back with five straight goals as Washington took a 5-3 lead early in third period. But still, the Stealth’s dynamic duo of Rhys Duch and Lewis Ratcliff were being shut out.
“Our stars have to outwork their stars and that didn’t happen tonight,” Webster said.
Ratcliff finished the game with one goal and Duch had none.
The Stealth also had trouble taking advantage of power-play situations.
“We had a number of power-play chances that we didn’t finish,” Webster said. “If they had gone 50 percent, we would have won.”
The Stealth finished the game 2-for-8 on the power play.
In the midst of the Stealth’s five unanswered goals came a bright spot for Washington. Rookie Brett Hickey scored his first NLL goal in the second period. He beat goalkeeper Brandon Miller off the post, but his first goal didn’t come without some drama as the officials had to review the play to make sure Hickey wasn’t in the crease.
“It felt fantastic,” Hickey said. “It kind of trickled past the line and I was like, ‘I finally got it.’”
When Hickey saw the play was headed to review, his excitement was curbed.
“I was like, ‘oh come on, you got to give it to me, you can’t take it away.’”
They didn’t, the goal stood and the Stealth continued to claw their way back, taking a 6-5 lead after three periods.
But behind three-second half goals by Drew Westervelt and two from Brendan Mundorf, the Wings were able to force the overtime session.
Wings goalkeeper Brandon Miller saved 49 of the 58 shots he faced in the contest.
“I think we made their goalie look pretty good,” Richards said.
Richards saved 35 of the 45 shots he faced. Cam Sedgwick and Matt Beers led the Stealth offensively, each scoring two goals.
After falling to 0-2 on the season, Webster said the Stealth will stay the course, but will make changes if necessary.
“We are going to stay positive,” Webster said. “We have to work hard and we have to play smarter. If we have to make personnel changes, we will. We can’t keep going down this road.”
Wings 10, Stealth 9 (OT)
Washington03 330 — 9
Philadelphia30241 — 10
1st Quarter — Scoring: PHI — Crowley Goal (Dawson) 1:18. PHI — Crowley Goal (Hominuck, Crotty) 7:02. PHI — Crowley Goal (Mundorf) 7:10. Penalties: Hoffman, PHI (Holding, Minor, 2 min) 2:01. Westervelt, PHI (Slashing, Minor, 2 min) 3:14. O’Dougherty, WAS (Holding, Minor, 2 min) 4:29. O’Dougherty, WAS (Illegal Cross Checking, Minor, 2 min) 11:28.
2nd Quarter — Scoring: WAS — Zywicki Goal (PP) (Rabil, Duch) 4:10. WAS — Hickey Goal (Sedgwick, Beers) 5:23. WAS — Beers Goal (Moleski, Richards) 11:15. Penalties: Manney, PHI (Slashing, Minor, 2 min) 2:41. Manney, PHI (Illegal Cross Checking, Minor, 2 min) 6:00.
3rd Quarter — Scoring: WAS — Sedgwick Goal (Smith, Duch) 0:50. WAS — Hodgson Goal (Grimes) 2:14. PHI — Westervelt Goal (Dawson, Heim) 12:04. WAS — Rabil Goal (Hartzell, Snider) 12:13. PHI — Westervelt Goal (Dawson, Mundorf) 13:13. Penalties: Mundorf, PHI (Delay of Game, Minor, 2 min) 9:24. Seibald, PHI (Illegal Cross Checking, Minor, 2 min) 12:43. , WAS (Too Many Men, Minor, 2 min) 13:01.
4th Quarter — Scoring: PHI — Mundorf Goal (Dawson, Crowley) 0:59. PHI — Mundorf Goal 3:03. PHI — Westervelt Goal (Miller) 4:15. WAS — Sedgwick Goal (PP) (Duch, Zywicki) 6:48. PHI — Crowley Goal (SH) (Holmes) 7:25. WAS — Ratcliff Goal (Hartzell, Richards) 10:19. WAS — Beers Goal (Richards) 11:55.
Penalties: Wray, PHI (Slashing, Minor, 2 min) 5:22. , PHI (Too Many Men, Minor, 2 min) 5:53.
OT1 Quarter — Scoring: PHI — Crowley Goal (Dawson, Mundorf) -9:54. Penalties: None
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