Player Spotlight


Player Spotlight highlights the finer details and elements while supplying insight to the fans on what a player's thought process may be pertaining to a certain play, game or situation. It brings the intensity, passion, and inner most thoughts of the individual player that otherwise may not be felt or heard.

In the Player Spotlight this week is Jake Bergey. Jake Bergey scored three goals, including the game-winner in overtime, to lead the Wings to a 12-11 victory Saturday night in Philadelphia. Bergey also had two assists for the Wings (2-5), who won for just the first time in three overtime games this season.

PLPA correspondent Aaron Bracy interviewed Bergey after the game.

Question In general, what are your thoughts about the game tonight?
Answer Obviously, it was a must win game for us. We came off a heartbreaking loss last week against the Rock (9-7 at Maple Leaf Gardens on Friday, February 19). We needed to come back and get a win tonight to keep our season alive.


Question Can you talk about your goals at the end of regulation and in overtime?
Answer The real crucial one was the one that put us into overtime (with one minute left). I kind of just dove across the crease and found the far corner. I was fortunate because that goal could have kept our season alive.


Question It seemed like Toronto took the momentum in the fourth quarter. What did the team do to stop that?
Answer Toronto really let us back into the game by taking penalties near the end of regulation. We were down and out, they took a stupid penalty that got us back into it, and we knew that we had to go hard. We did that and it worked out for us.


Question Was there any concern prior to the overtime period because Philadelphia lost its two previous overtime games this season?
Answer We were playing the averages that sooner or later we were going to get one. We knew it was our turn.


Question What does this team need to do to continue to win games, and are the playoff hopes still alive?
Answer We're starting to play our best lacrosse right now, so I think that our playoff hopes are still alive. Our defense is really stepping up and playing well. Dallas (Eliuk) was fantastic in goal tonight as usual.


Question What is the morale like in the locker room after getting the monkey off of your back?
Answer We've had a rough season, and we've been losing close games all year. We knew that the breaks had to start coming our way, and fortunately it happened tonight.


Question Can you talk about the recent NLL All-Star game?
Answer It was a great time. It started out like a fun game, but towards the end it became more competitive. It was a great bunch of guys up there, and just a fun weekend all around.


Question How do you prepare and train for each season?
Answer I hit the weight room pretty hard twice a week, and also do cardiovascular work twice a week. I don't really like to get out of shape during the summer, so I try and stay in shape all year, and then just tone up at the beginning of the season.


Question What are the good points of the indoor game?
Answer I like the excitement and the high scoring. I just love it. I love the fans. It is just a great time.


Question What was it like growing up as the son of a star football player and now having the roles somewhat reversed?
Answer It was neat because I had the life of an average kid, but I also got to go to some Eagles practices and games.


PLPA Correspondent

Aaron Bracy is a recent graduate of St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he was a four-year varsity letterwinner in golf. Although he has never played lacrosse, he enjoys watching the sport. He covered the men's lacrosse team for the "Hawk" Student Newspaper while attending St. Joseph's. Currently, he is working for the Associated Press and CBS SportsLine as a freelance sports journalist.

Aaron, who resides in Narberth, PA, has two younger brothers. Adam, 19, is a freshman at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, and Andy, 17, is a senior at Willingboro (NJ) H.S. His mom, Susan, and his stepfather, Martin Perrotta, have been extremely supportive of all of his ventures. And his girlfriend, Jeanne, is also a very important part of his life.



Don't miss next week when Tom Borrelli has Buffalo's Chris Panos in the "Spotlight".