Austin Takes 1-0 Lead in First Round Series
Published on March 22, 2002 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Austin Ice Bats News Release
Austin 2-1-1---4
San Antonio 1-0-0---1
San Antonio, Texas - The Iguanas began their quest for the President's Cup tonight at Freeman Coliseum in game one of a first round best-of-five series with the Southeastern Division champion Austin Ice Bats. The game began an hour later than scheduled due to traffic delays that slowed the Bats arrival but the adversity did not affect Austin as they take a 1-0 series lead with a 4-1 victory in front of 6,132 fans.
Despite arriving late, the Bats did not take much time to get on the board as just 16 seconds into the game Jeff Greenlaw scored from Mike Gaffney and Kelly Smart. The Iguanas tied the game at the 13:44 mark with their lone goal of the game, a power play goal by defenseman Clay Awe. The Ice Bats would reclaim the lead just under four minutes later when defenseman Daniel Tetrault scored the first of two goals in the game giving the Bats a 2-1 lead after one period of play.
Austin would add to their lead late in the second period with Tetrault's second goal taking a 3-1 lead into the third period of play. Austin was an amazing 32-0-2 during the regular season when leading after two periods.
Austin would put the dagger in the heart of the Iguanas early on in the final period when Greenlaw scored his second goal of the night at the 3:43 mark of the third period giving the Bats a 4-1 lead.
Austin's special teams were given many chances as they were 2 for 12 on the power play (both of Tetrault's goals were scored with the man-advantage), while San Antonio went 1 for 6 on the power play. Austin outshot the Iguanas 32-31 for the game as Austin's goaltender Bryan McMullen made 30 saves in the game and San Antonio's Brent Belecki made 28 saves in a losing cause.
Austin's Smart finished the game with a pair of assists, while the league's top two scorers from the regular season, Dan Price and Brett Seguin, each added an assist.
The victory puts Austin in the driver's seat in the series, as they will host both games two and three in the Travis County Expo Center. Game two is scheduled for tomorrow night with face off scheduled for 7:30 PM. Should San Antonio survive in the series, they would not host another game until game four in the series.
Central Hockey League Stories from March 22, 2002
- Austin Takes 1-0 Lead in First Round Series - Austin Ice Bats
- El Paso 4, Odessa 3 - El Paso Buzzards
- Leslie and Emersic Receive Call-Up - Lubbock Cotton Kings
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