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Rail Yard Dawgs (9-15-3) vs Marksmen

January 15, 2018 - SPHL (SPHL) - Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs News Release


LAST TIME OUT: The Rail Yard Dawgs struck for three goals in the first period and cruised to a 5-2 victory over the Fayetteville Marksmen, Friday night at Berglund Center. Steve Mele had a goal and three assists and Matt Zenzola made 30 saves to help vault Roanoke to the win.

A FAMILIAR FOE: Roanoke faces Fayetteville 13 times this season- making the Marksmen the team that it will see most often. In the eight meetings between the two teams thus far, the Rail Yard Dawgs have gone 5-3-0. Roanoke is 3-0-0 in the three meetings at Fayetteville's Crown Coliseum.

MELE FEASTING: Steve Mele had a goal and three assists in Friday's 5-2 win over the Marksmen, pushing his team-leading goal and assist totals to 13 and 22 respectively. Mele is now tied for the SPHL lead in both assists and points. In his last three games he has totaled four goals and four assists.

SWITCHING SIDES: Roanoke employs two players who opened the season with Fayetteville in goaltender Matt Zenzola and defenseman Taylor Love. Conversely, the Marksmen roster now includes defenseman Chris Kravtchouk, who began the season with Roanoke. Kravtchouk was claimed off waivers by the Marksmen after the Dawgs released him on January 4.

DIFFERENCE IN THE CHANGES: Both the Marksmen and Rail Yard Dawgs have made a coaching change this season and the two teams have had differing results since doing so. In its 15 games under new head coach Phil Esposito, the Marksmen have gone 3-10-2 and have been outscored a combined, 69-31. The Rail Yard Dawgs are now 4-4-1 under new head coach Dan Bremner.

TOP-HEAVY SCORING: Fayetteville has received the majority of its offensive production from three players- John Schiavo, Jake Hauswirth and Kyle McNeil. Of the 75 goals the Marksmen have scored this season, 40 have come from that trio. Schiavo is tied for third in the league in goals with 14 while McNeil and Hauswirth are each tied for sixth with 13.

THEY KILL FAYETTEVILLE: Roanoke's two leading scorers Steve Mele and Riley Spraggs have hit Fayetteville hard this season. Over eight games, Mele has five goals and seven assists while Spraggs has six goals and two helpers.

POWERED UP: The Dawgs went 3-for-5 on the power play on Friday night. Three goals were the most power play goals that Roanoke has had in a game this season.

UP NEXT: The Rail Yard Dawgs and Marksmen will play their third consecutive game against one another on Friday night in Roanoke. Puck drop at Berglund Center is scheduled for 7:05 PM.


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