WINGS EDGE MAMMOTH 13-11 IN OPENER

[James Foote]

WINGS EDGE MAMMOTH 13-11 IN OPENER

The Wings celebrate following a goal by Rob Van Beek in the first quarter.
Rookie forward Sean Greenhalgh scored four goals, including three in the decisive fourth quarter, as the Philadelphia Wings defeated the Colorado Mammoth by a score of 13-11 on opening night of the National Lacrosse League's 20th season. Goaltender Matt Roik stopped 44 shots, and held the Mammoth to one goal in the fourth quarter as the Wings completed their comeback. A crowd of 15,726 was on hand at Pepsi Center, where the Mammoth retired Gary Gait's number 22 prior to the contest.

Colorado got off to a fast start in the first quarter. Gavin Prout scored a pair of goals as the Mammoth raced to a 4-2 lead.


Matt Roik made 44 saves in his Wings debut.
Philadelphia settled in and played Colorado evenly during the second quarter, as each team scored three goals. Colorado took a 7-5 lead into halftime. Prout led Mammoth scoring with three goals, while five different Wings scored in the first half.

Philadelphia pulled closer in the third quarter, outscoring Colorado 4-3. Rookie Luke Wiles scored his second goal of the game, and fellow rookie Sean Greenhalgh scored his first career goal with just over five minutes remaining in the quarter.

It would hardly be the last from Greenhalgh. The rookie scored three more goals in the fourth quarter, including a pair in the final four minutes that sealed the victory.
Wings goalie Matt Roik was sensational at times, holding Colorado scoreless for a 19-minute stretch over the third and fourth quarters.


Dan Carey had a goal and three assists in his first NLL game.
Greenhalgh finished the night with seven points on four goals and three assists. "I was anxious and excited to get started tonight and I think it took me a little bit to settle down," said Greenhalgh. "I really started to find my rhythm in the second half and I think my teammates did too." Fellow Wings rookie Luke Wiles added two goals and an assist. Keith Cromwell had two goals and two assists for the Wings.

Mammoth scoring was led by Gavin Prout (3g, 2a) and Jay Jalbert (2g, 1a). Rookie Dan Carey had a goal and three assists in his first NLL game. Gee Nash made 33 saves in the Mammoth net.

New Mammoth head coach Gary Gait reacted to the loss."It's definitely a night of mixed emotions," Gait said. "It's a terrific honor to have a jersey retired, but we're moving into a different phase of the game and this is a disappointing loss."

Both teams are in action next weekend. Philadelphia is at Minnesota on Friday, January 6th. Colorado hosts Rochester on Saturday, January 7th.


Gary Gait addreses the crowd during his number retirement ceremony.
Fans in the Philadelphia area can see the game replayed on Comcast Sportsnet Philadelphia on Sunday, January 1 at Noon Eastern.

Prior to the season opener on Friday night, the Colorado Mammoth retired the number 22 that was previously worn by Gary Gait. Gait, who retired from a 15-year playing career after last season, retired as the league's all-time leading scorer with 1,091 career points. After raising his number 22 to the Pepsi Center rafters, Gait took his place behind the bench as the new head coach of the Colorado Mammoth.


Gait's #22 is raised to the rafters at Pepsi Center.
Gait thanked his family, former teammates and the fans of Colorado for their unwavering support over the years.