The Syracuse Smash once again saw a dramatic rally fall just short when Matt Oglesby scored his second of the night into an empty net, clinching the Wings 17-14 victory in front of 2,421 fans at the Onegdaga County War Memorial on Saturday night.

Andy Piazza, starting for the suspended Dallas Eliuk, sandwiched stellar second and third quarters, in which he stopped 21 of 24 shots, around average-looking first and fourth quarters where the Smash beat him on 11 of 31 shots. For the Smash, Ross Cowie lasted only into the early third quarter (12 goals on 34 shots) before being yanked in favor of Derek Collins, who made great saves that allowed the late Smash rally.

The initial twenty minutes, which saw the team trades goals back and forth, ended with the Smash holding a 6-5 advantage. The Wings would then erupt for the next seven goals, and 11 of the next 15 to build a seemingly insurmountable 16-9 lead with about twelve minutes to play in the game.

The Smash, led by Jeff Wilfong (2 goals, 4 assists) and Del Halladay, erupted for four goals in the next eight minutes, cutting the Wings lead to 16-13. After scoring a goal with Collins pulled, the tactic backfired on the Smash with Ogelsby's empty net goal sealing the Wings victory.

Philadelphia was led by Mark Miilon (3 goals, 4 assists), who was playing in his first game as a Wing since being traded from the Smash last weekend. Also leading the Wings were Game MVP Tom Marechek (4 goals, 2 assists) and Kevin Finneran (1 goal, 5 assists). The Smash also got a big night from Eric Seremet (1 goal, 5 assists).

The Wings will battle the Rock next Saturday at the First Union Center. This will be the first time the Wings have played the Rock since the humilating 13-2 defeat in the semifinals in Toronto last year, and is the only matchup between the two teams this regular season.

Syracuse will visit Pittsburgh next weekend, still searching for their elusive first win of the season and first road win ever. They will be visiting another recently traded ex-Smash star, Paul Gait.

BOX SUMMARY
                                  1  2  3  4     TOT
Philadelphia Wings (5-2)          4  5  3  5  --  17
Syracuse Smash (0-7)              4  2  1  7  --  14

PHILADELPHIA WINGS            SYRACUSE SMASH
               G - A   PTS                   G - A   PTS
M Millon       3 - 4     7    Wilfong        2 - 5     7
Marechek       4 - 2     6    Seremet        1 - 5     6
Finneran       1 - 5     6    Klodzen        3 - 2     5
Clark          2 - 3     5    Morrissey      2 - 2     4
Ogelsby        2 - 3     5    Halladay       3 - 0     3
Bergey         1 - 4     5    E Fay          1 - 1     2
Panos          1 - 2     3    J Fay          1 - 1     2
Ryan           1 - 2     3    Oudemool       1 - 0     1
McEvoy         1 - 0     1
Phair          1 - 0     1

Shots on goal           56    Shots on goal           55
Saves made by           41    Saves made by           39
   Piazza            41          Cowie             22
                                 Collins           17
Power Play Chances       6    Power Play Chances       6
Power Play Goals         4    Power Play Goals         3

*** STATS OFFICIAL BY VERIFY WITH SYRACUSE HERALD-AMERICAN ***

Thanks to Fabio Gump for providing the official game stats.