Wings Need Hollywood Ending To Defeat Knighthawks

Event Spotlight:
Wings Need Hollywood Ending To Defeat Knighthawks
Friday, April 20, 2001

By Mike Costantino
SJSports Staff Writer

Tom " Hollywood " Marechek scored with one minute and twenty- nine seconds remaining in the game to break an 11-11 tie. With that goal, the Wings defeated the Rochester Knighthawks 12-11 and advanced to the NLL championship game next Saturday night. Rochester broke out on top first scoring two goals and controlling play for the first half of the period. The Wings would get on the scoreboard on a two-man advantage and Marechek would make it 2-1. Jake Bergey tied the game at 2-2 on a nice pass from Mark Millon from behind the net.

Just as they had in the first period, Rochester started strong in the second scoring three goals in less than ninety seconds to take a 5-2 lead. But back came the Wings as they score four goals in just under three minutes to re-take the lead at 6-5. Rochester scored the last two goals of the half as John Grant and Duane Jacobs beat Dallas Elliuk and they led 7-6 at the half.

The second half was a mirror image of the first half as neither team could build a lead. With the game tied at 11-11, the crowd of 10,259 seemed poised for overtime until Marechek scripted his own ending. Marechek and Jeff Ratcliffe each scored three goals and Bergey added two goals and four assists.

Photos by Boog Williams