Bandits bounce Wings from playoffs 14-12

May 3rd, 2008 by Lauren Ward

With the way this season has gone it’s only fitting that last night at the HSBC the Buffalo Bandits trailed in the first, led in the second, trailed in the third and then won it in the fourth. With a 14-12 win over the Philadelphia Wings, the Bandits have become the first team to advance to their division final.

Heading into the fourth quarter Buffalo trailed 10-9 but grabbed a lead back with two goals in the first two minutes, only to see Philadelphia’s Merrick Thomson tie the game again 11-11 at 8:25. Mike Accursi, Kevin Dostie and Billy Dee Smith each scored once in the next six minutes to put the game out of reach despite a last-minute goal from Jake Bergey that ended it 14-12.

Accursi led the Bandits with four goals and three assists, while Dostie had three and two and Smith and Delby Powless had two goals apiece. Bandits goaltender Mike Thompson made 46 saves on the night, stopping 10 of 12 in the fourth.

League-leading scorer Athan Iannucci had four goals and one assist for the Wings, and Bergey and rookie Jamie Rooney had three goals each.

The Bandits will face the winner of tonight’s match-up between the New York Titans and Minnesota Swarm in the Eastern Division final.