In what sounds like a strange line of reasoning, the Philadelphia Wings felt that their own fatigue was their biggest ally Sunday afternoon in a 13-12 overtime victory over the Albany Attack that damaged Albany's playoff hopes.

Of course, if you asked the Attack, it was the referees who were Philadelphia's best friends, the same gripe that Albany had after an overtime loss to the Wings in the season opener three months ago in Philadelphia.

A wide open John McEvoy scored 50 seconds into overtime for the sudden-death victory as the Wings survived despite playing their second game in 18 hours. Philadelphia had lost to Buffalo Saturday night, then took a Sunday morning flight to Albany.

Wings coach Tony Resch felt that because his team was tired, the players made safe, prudent decisions.

"That little bit of fatigue slows you down a little bit and in some situations, that's a good thing," Resch said. "Maybe our guys made the solid and smart play instead of trying something (foolish). In some ways, maybe that calmed us down."

The Attack (6-4) had its five-game winning streak snapped. A victory would have vaulted Albany into a tie for first place in the National Lacrosse League. Instead, the loss dropped Albany into a tie for fourth with Philadelphia with two games left.

If the season ended today, the Wings would beat out the Attack for the fourth and final playoff spot by virtue of Philadelphia's two overtime victories.

Afterward, Attack coach Terry Sanderson was furious with the officiating. Though Philadelphia only had one power-play goal to Albany's two, the Wings had the first four power plays of the game. And overall, Albany was penalized 32 minutes to Philadelphia's 24.

Sanderson said that being short-handed so often wore down his team.

"Philadelphia has a red carpet rolled out for them every time," Sanderson said. "I don't know what it is. It's a bloody shame when people work hard and you have officials make some of the judgment calls they make."

Attack forward Ted Dowling, who had two goals and two assists, even suggested the officiating is rigged in favor of the Wings because the league wants to see Philadelphia, which draws well at home, in the playoffs.

"It would be a shock to the system if Philadelphia didn't make it to the playoffs, which they don't deserve to," Dowling said. "Every game is tailor-made for them to win. If they don't pull it out, with their 17,000 people every game, it's like, 'Ooooh, Philadelphia didn't make the playoffs.'"

But the Attack had its chances to win and didn't. Albany led 12-11 with 2:23 left after a power-play goal by Dallas Squire, who didn't even play Friday in a win over the Syracuse Smash.

Philadelphia's Jake Bergey tied the score at twelve with 1:26 remaining, finishing off a 2-on-1 after a marvelous pass by Paul O'Grady.

Albany had chances to win the game on the last possession of regulation and the first possession of overtime, but didn't get off a shot either time.

Then McEvoy curled from behind Albany's net, took a pass from Bergey, and wrapped a shot around Albany goalkeeper Rob Blasdell and into the right corner of the net for the victory.

BOX SUMMARY
                                  1  2  3  4 OT     TOT
Philadelphia Wings (6-4)          3  2  3  4  1  --  13
Albany Attack (6-4)               2  2  4  4  0  --  12

PHILADELPHIA WINGS            ALBANY ATTACK
               G - A   PTS                   G - A   PTS
Bergey         2 - 3     5    J Sanderson    3 - 3     6
Finneran       3 - 1     4    Cordingley     3 - 1     4
Ogelsby        1 - 3     4    Dowling        2 - 2     4
McEvoy         2 - 1     3    Woods          0 - 3     3
M Millon       2 - 1     3    Fannell        1 - 1     2
Marechek       1 - 2     3    D Squire       1 - 1     2
J Clark        1 - 1     2    Beisel         0 - 2     2
Ryan           1 - 1     2    Gibson         1 - 0     1
Eliuk          0 - 2     2    P Sanderson    1 - 0     1
Gagliardi      0 - 1     1    MacDonnell     0 - 1     1
Phair          0 - 1     1    R Sanderson    0 - 1     1
Stilley        0 - 1     1

Shots on goal           46    Shots on goal           47
Saves made by           35    Saves made by           33
   Eliuk                         Blasdell
Power Play Goals         1    Power Play Goals         0
Shorthanded Goals        1    Shorthanded Goals        3

*** STATS OFFICIAL BY VERIFY WITH NLL ***

Thanks to Bandit for providing the official game stats.