Still from video posted to social media by Philadelphia Wings
Philadelphia Wings fans made quite the first impression on Brennan O'Neill in the team's home opener on Saturday.
"It was more than I could've imagined," said the rookie. "I had expectations going in and they exceeded them. They really brought the energy."
And after O'Neill scored four goals in a 19-10 Wings victory over the Las Vegas Desert Dogs, the warm feelings were certainly mutual.
WINGS WIN🚨🚨🚨#LetItFly 🪽 pic.twitter.com/K96e7SRgyr
19 goals tied the Wings' franchise record, first set in April 2019 and tied previously in March 2023. Four Wings players posted hat tricks and team captain Blaze Riorden matched O'Neill's four goals in the rout.
Riorden scored on the team's first possession of the game.
"It's a game of momentum," said Riorden afterwards. "And when you get that first [goal] early, the ball starts rolling downhill."
Your captain with the first home goal of the season🚨 pic.twitter.com/rVIezfpQwO
The game was tied at four after the first quarter. But the Wings outscored Vegas 5-0 in the second quarter, part of a 7-0 run over 25 minutes of clock time.
Goalie Nick Damude made 47 saves.
Damude. Said. NO. 🛑@NLLwings pic.twitter.com/uA50xST1fr
"The scary thing is a lot of those [10 goals allowed] are fixable," said Damude. "So I think that's only the start for us."
All four of O'Neill's goals and three of Riorden's came in the second half. Joe Resetarits and Mitch Jones recorded the other two hat tricks. Resetarits led all players with eight assists.
"It was not surprising to me," said Wings head coach Ian Rubel when asked about his team's offensive explosion. "I think the talent that we have in that room and . . . the way we were moving the ball and player movement allowed us to execute."
Wings WIN Home Opener 🔥 Stay tuned for an exciting season 👀#LetItFly pic.twitter.com/YrHRONhQTZ
The Wings (1-1) and Desert Dogs (0-3) will meet in Vegas for a rematch on Friday, December 20.
