CHARLESTON, SC NEWS - LIVE 5 WCSC Breaking News, Weather, SportsStingrays Physical Play Not Enough Against Gladiators
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North Charleston, SC –The South Carolina Stingrays (9-5-1-3) fell to the Gwinnett Gladiators (8-3-1-1) 5-2 Saturday night in the second game of a three-in-three weekend at North Charleston Coliseum. Stingrays forward Rob Ricci registered two points as South Carolina dropped their third straight contest. South Carolina finishes up their weekend home stand tomorrow at 4 p.m. against the Johnstown Chiefs at North Charleston Coliseum.
Gwinnett forward Matt Siddall lit the lamp first at 5:58 of the opening period lifting a shot over the glove of Stingrays goaltender Todd Ford from the top of the left-wing circle. Michael Forney recorded the assist on Siddall's second goal of the season. The Gladiators jumped to a 2-0 lead at 10:53 thanks to a blast from defenseman Chad Denny along the right-wing boards. Center Matt Francis knocked the puck over to Denny for his second of the year.
The Stingrays received five power plays in the second period including three consecutive 5-on-3 man advantages, but could not solve Gladiators goaltender Danny Taylor. South Carolina continued their offensive pressure and was rewarded late in the period with a goal from forward Matt Scherer to cut the lead in half at 18:18. Joe Finley and Ricci earned the assists. The one goal deficit stood at the conclusion of 40 minutes of play.
South Carolina tied the game at two 6:58 into the third period as Dylan Yeo beat Taylor high blocker-side. Yeo's second of the season was assisted by Ricci and Michael Dubuc. Gwinnett answered immediately at 7:44 to regain a one-goal lead. Gladiator forward Pat Galivan fired a high shot on Ford from the left-wing circle and the rebound slowly rolled down his right shoulder and into the back of the net. The Gladiators took a two goal lead for the second time in the game as Adam Berti netted a power-play marker from Galivan and Siddall at 9:36. The Gladiators sealed the win late in the third with a power-play goal from Brian Kaufman at 19:48. Defensemen Chad Denny and Scott Marchesi tallied assists. The Stingrays finished the game 0-for-9 on the power play while Gwinnet went 2-for-9. Ford knocked away 23 of 28 Gladiator shots while Taylor earns his second straight victory saving 33 of 35 Stingrays opportunities.
Courtesy: SC Stingrays
