Dominant First Period Sparks Fighting Saints to 4-2 Win

Connor Girard got the start in goal for the Fighting Saints and made several big saves in the early minutes of the game as Cedar Rapids mounted pressure. After that, it was all Dubuque. Frankie DiChiara continued his strong play in the preseason scoring 7:56 into the game on a partial break down the right wing, firing a low wrist-shot blocker side. The goal was the third tally for DiChiara of the preseason and was assisted by Mike Szmatula.

Dubuque added to its lead at 14:02 of the first period on the powerplay. Seamus Malone fired a shot from an odd angle along the goal line on the right side of the ice that banked off the Cedar Rapids goaltender and in. With less than two minutes remaining in the period, Peter Quenneville capped off the period with a goal on a beautiful passing play. Shane Sooth fed the puck to Evan Janssen who passed it to Quenneville while falling down. Quenneville made no mistake, roofing a backhander top corner to put Dubuque up 3-0.

The RoughRiders would add a goal from Jack Rowe on the powerplay at 15:53 of the second period. Girard stopped the first shot, but Rowe hammered home the rebound top corner to cut Dubuque's lead to two. The two teams traded goals in the third period with Quenneville finishing another pretty passing play for his second goal of the game at 14:41, before Cedar Rapids added a goal in the final two minutes on an odd bounce.

Girard stopped 33 shots and earned the win between the pipes for Dubuque in his first action of the preseason.

The Fighting Saints next game is at the USHL Fall Classic in Sioux City, Iowa on Wednesday, September 19 versus the Tri-City Storm at 4:00 p.m. Dubuque will also play Team USA-18 on Thursday, September 20 at 7:00 p.m. and Youngstown at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, September 21 at the Fall Classic. The first game of the regular season comes at the Mystique Community Ice Center on September 28 versus Tri-City at 7:35 p.m.

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United States Hockey League Stories from September 9, 2012

• Dominant First Period Sparks Fighting Saints to 4-2 Win - Dubuque Fighting Saints

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