CHARLESTON, SC NEWS - LIVE 5 WCSC Breaking News, Weather, SportsStingrays Defeat Reading 3-1
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Reading, PA –The South Carolina Stingrays (6-2-1-1) defeated the Reading Royals (4-3-1-1) 3-1 Saturday night in front of 5,156 at Sovereign Center. The Stingrays ended a four game road power-play drought finishing 1-for-3 on the evening.
The two teams played a strong first period, but neither side could score in the opening frame. Reading generated 12 shots on Stingrays rookie goaltender Braden Holtby while South Carolina placed nine shots on Beau Erickson. Reading earned the only power play of the period finishing 0-for-1.
The Stingrays lit the lamp first at 17:24 of the second period thanks to Matt Scherer’s third of the season from Rob Ricci and Joe Finley. Scherer snapped a high wrist-shot from the top of the left-wing circle beating Erickson glove side. The score remained 1-0 through the remainder of the period.
Stingrays’ defenseman Zach Tarkir notched a power-play goal at 5:19 of the third period to put South Carolina up 2-0. Forwards Matt Fornataro and Michael Dubuc recorded the assists. Reading responded at 7:40 as Ben McLeod converted on a Stingrays turnover to cut the lead in half. Stingrays winger Keith Johnson regained the two-goal lead at 12:26 with a shot over the glove of Erickson at the bottom of the right-wing circle. Nikita Kashirsky added the assist. Holtby recorded his second win of the season stopping 27 of 28 Reading shots while Erickson suffered his first loss knocking away 34 of 37 Stingrays chances.
The Stingrays continue their northern road trip tomorrow, November 8 as they visit the Reading Royals at 5:05 p.m. at Sovereign Center.
