(From the 3/14/99 Philadelphia Inquirer)

Playoff-level intensity returned to the First Union Center last night, with Jake Bergey energizing the Wings to a pivotal 16-13 come-from-behind victory over Baltimore.

The showdown between the defending National Lacrosse League champions and the first-place Thunder had the crowd of 16,398 roaring until the final horn.

Bergey's five-goal, six-assist performance was electric, and his last score was pure highlight reel. In one motion, Bergey cradled a pass from Kevin Finneran, dove across the goal mouth, and flicked a shot into the back of the net, putting the Wings ahead to stay, 14-13, with 3 minutes, 11 seconds to play.

"One loss right now and we could be knocked out of the playoff picture," Bergey said. "We knew it was crunch time when we came out for the fourth quarter, and we knew we had to get it done.

"This is a team effort, and it is plays like Kevin's pass that make the difference."

Bergey also set up the final two scores, including an empty-netter by John McEvoy (three goals, two assists) with 14.4 seconds left.

The Wings (4-5) scored seven times in the final 11:29 to keep their playoff hopes alive and avenge a 18-17 overtime loss to the Thunder (6-3) on the road in January.

Tom Marechek aided the second-half rally, contributing three goals and three assists. Finneran finished with two goals and four assists. Wings goalie Dallas Eliuk was brilliant, turning in 44 saves.

"This is a total team effort," Bergey said. "It's passes like the one Kevin laid out for me and the job Dallas did in goal that allow us to keep the playoffs in our sights."

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