The Philadelphia Wings improved their record to 3-5 by defeating the New Jersey Storm, 16-14, Saturday afternoon at the First Union Center.

Braving heavy rains and traffic from the Mummers' "Show Of Shows" held next door at the Spectrum, 13,344 fans made their way out for Dallas Eliuk Bobblehead Day, and were rewarded with a great game.

Tom Marechek put the Wings on the board less than one minute into the contest, but then nobody scored until Jeff Ratcliffe increased the Philadelphia lead to 2-0 on the power play nine minutes later.

The Storm responded with two goals of its own to tie the game, but a late power play goal from Tony Henderson put the Wings on top 3-2 at the end of the first quarter.

Scott Stewart gave New Jersey its first lead of the game with two quick goals to start the second stanza. Marechek replied to tie again twenty seconds later, but Cam Bomberry's power play goal and Blake Miller's shorthanded score put the Storm back in the lead.

Marechek completed his hat trick with 5:44 to play, and Wings newcomer Dan Marohl added one, to again tie the game. Marechek took advantage of a shorthanded opportunity, scoring with two minutes remaining, but a late power play goal from the Storm's Roy Colsey resulted with a halftime score of 7-7.

Henderson and Marechek kicked off the scoring in the second half, but Marc Morley returned fire to bring the Storm back within one. Just eight seconds later, Peter Jacobs again increased the Wings lead to two, but the Storm followed with three goals in a row, from Steve Sombrotto, Bobby Horsey, and Mike Benedict.

Marohl's second score of the game tied the contest at eleven, and Jeff Spano's unassisted goal put the Wings on top at the end of the third quarter, 12-11.

Philadelphia again struck first in the final period of play. Henderson and Ratcliffe each scored during a five-minute cross-checking penalty on the Storm's Roy Colsey. Colsey scored the next goal, six minutes later, but Eliuk connected with a wide open Tom Ryan in Storm territory for a goal, and Henderson scored his fourth to increase the Wings' lead to four.

Colsey scored two power play goals in the final forty-two seconds of the game, but it wasn't enough to prevent the Wings from enjoying the victory.

"It's a great feeling," Wings coach Adam Mueller said. "They went up by a goal in the third and we came right back. The group stayed positive and we came back with a strong quarter."

"Tom's been putting up the points every game, but he broke the ice tonight with five goals and some assists. It's a sign of relief that someone can step up and get goals when we need them."

Philadelphia broke its two-game losing streak and now stands at 3-5, just a half-game out of first place in the Eastern Division. The Wings will next host the Columbus Landsharks on Saturday, 1 March at 8:00 PM.

The Storm, playing for the first time under new head coach Peter Vipond, extended its losing streak to seven games and now is a dismal 2-8 on the season. New Jersey will host the Albany Attack on Friday, 28 February.

BOX SUMMARY
                                      1  2  3  4     TOT
New Jersey Storm (2-8)                2  5  4  3  --  14
Philadelphia Wings (3-5)              3  4  5  4  --  16

NEW JERSEY STORM              PHILADELPHIA WINGS
               G - A   PTS                   G - A   PTS
Colsey         4 - 2     6    Marechek       5 - 3     8
Stewart        3 - 1     4    Henderson      4 - 1     5
Ca Bomberry    2 - 1     3    Marohl         2 - 3     5
M Ladouceur    0 - 3     3    Ratcliffe      2 - 3     5
Benedict       1 - 1     2    Cromwell       0 - 4     4
B Miller       1 - 1     2    Eliuk          0 - 3     3
Morley         1 - 1     2    Ryan           1 - 1     2
Sombrotto      1 - 1     2    Spano          1 - 1     2
Nadelen        0 - 2     2    P Jacobs       1 - 0     1
Roik           0 - 2     2    Candy          0 - 1     1
Horsey         1 - 0     1    A Martin       0 - 1     1
Holcomb        0 - 1     1    Slate          0 - 1     1

Shots on goal           51    Shots on goal           48
Saves made by           32    Saves made by           37
   Roik              32          Eliuk             37
Penalties                6    Penalties                8
Penalty Minutes         15    Penalty Minutes         16
Power Play Chances       7    Power Play Chances       5
Power Play Goals         4    Power Play Goals         4
   Colsey             3          Henderson          2
   Co Bomberry        1          Ratcliffe          2
Shorthanded Goals        1    Shorthanded Goals        1
   B Miller           1          Marechek           1
Loose Balls             72    Loose Balls             75
   Roik              11          P Jacobs          12
   B Miller           8          Ratcliffe          9
   Sombrotto          8          A Martin           8
                                 Spano              8
Faceoffs Won            17    Faceoffs Won            17
   Purdie       (17-16)          P Jacobs     (16-16)
   Talmo        ( 0- 1)          R Traynor    ( 1- 1)

*** STATS OFFICIAL BY VERIFY WITH PHILADELPHIA WINGS ***