Condors Hand Falcons First Home Loss
November 2, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release
FRESNO, Calif. â The Fresno Falcons had their four-game winning streak snapped at the hands of the Bakersfield Condors, 4-3, in front of 5,933 fans at Selland Arena on Friday night. The Condors are still the only team to have beaten the Falcons in regulation in this young season, having done it twice. Three different Falcons scored goals in the losing effort.
Drew Schoneck got things started on a positive note for the Falcons as his first goal of the season just 2:56 into the hockey game gave his team the early 1-0 lead. Paul Willett answered for the Condors less than four minutes later with the first of three power play goals for Bakersfield. The Condors continued to thrive on the power play in the second period when Jeff Goldie tacked up a pair of goals to put the Condors out in front 3-1.
It took the Falcons nearly five minutes to respond, but with Bakersfield's Shawn Byram in the penalty box serving a match penalty for high sticking, Fresno exploded for two power play goals by Mike Mathers and Kayle Short in the span of minute to tie the game up a three apiece heading into the third period.
In the third period, with the score knotted at 3-3, the teams skated to over 15 minutes of scoreless hockey. Denis Ladouceur managed to break the deadlock with his goal at 15:38 to put the Condors back out in front with the eventual game winner. The Falcons tried feverishly to net the equalizer but were unable to generate any good scoring chances down the stretch.
Special teams were the deciding factor in the game as the two teams combined for five power play goals on 14 chances. Fresno converted on two of their six chances while Bakersfield found the net three times in eight opportunities. The Falcons were outshot by the Condors 31-19, including a 22-8 margin at one point midway through the second period. Terry Friesen made 27 saves in net for the Falcons while his counterpart Kevin St. Pierre made 16.
Fresno failed to gain any ground on the front running Idaho Steelheads in the West Coast Hockey League standings as they actually lost ground to the San Diego, who defeated the Steelheads earlier in the evening. The Falcons are now 4-2-0 with eight points, one point behind the Gulls for second place.
The team will look to get back on the winning track when the Steelheads return to Fresno tomorrow night for a 7:30 p.m. face off. The first 1,500 fans through the Selland Arena doors will receive free mini hockey stick compliments of the Institute of Technology. The Falcons will also auction off the special edition Halloween jerseys worn during their match up with the Gulls last Tuesday night following the conclusion of their game with the Steelheads. The live auction will take place at the El Torito Restaurant on Tulare and R Streets in downtown Fresno. Tickets for Saturday's game are on sale now at the Selland Arena box office, all Ticketmaster locations, or on-line at www.ticketmaster.com.
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ECHL Stories from November 2, 2002
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- Kingfish fall to Bandits 5-4 - Baton Rouge Kingfish
- Chiefs Beat Bombers - Johnstown Chiefs
- Columbus holds off IceGators, 4-3 - Louisiana IceGators
- Chiefs Notes vs. Dayton - Johnstown Chiefs
- Skate with the 'Fish cancelled and rescheduled - Baton Rouge Kingfish
- Grrrowl's 3-game winning streak snapped - Greenville Grrrowl
- Walby Named Player of the Month - ECHL
- All Along the Coast - ECHL
- Kingfish fall to Pilots in OT, 2-1 - Baton Rouge Kingfish
- Condors Hand Falcons First Home Loss - Fresno Falcons
- Kenady's Trick is Ice Dogs' Treat - Long Beach Ice Dogs
- Long Beach Extends Anchorage Misery - Alaska Aces
- Gulls End Losing Streak with 2-1 Win - San Diego Gulls
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