Dichiara's Scores Pair in Third to Lead Dubuque To Win
Published on February 23, 2013 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Frankie DiChiara scored twice in the third period to help the Dubuque Fighting Saints end a three-game losing streak Saturday night with a 4-2 win in Cedar Rapids over the RoughRiders. With Dubuque needing to get back in the win column, DiChiara scored the eventual game-winning goal only 32 seconds into the third period to give the Fighting Saints a Prairie Farms Cowbell Cup win, and stay perfect against the RoughRiders this season.
For the first time in four games the Fighting Saints got on the board first. Dubuque forward John Stevens scored at the 11:22 mark of the first period for his 10th goal of the year. The tally was assisted by Frankie DiChiara who sailed into the zone, skated behind the net, and passed the puck off to Stevens in front, who shot it in from the right-hand side of the net past Cedar Rapid's goalie Michael Rotolo.
The Fighting Saints looked to take the lead into the locker room after the first period, however the RoughRiders were able to tie the game late in the frame. After a scramble in front of the goal, Cedar Rapids answered with a shot by David Goodwin that cruised past Christian Frey's glove with 32.9 seconds remaining in the first period to tie the game at one.
The puck had barely touched the ice at the start of the second period when gloves were dropped for a scrap between Dubnuque's Mike Downing and Cedar Rapids' Scott Moldenhauer. The RoughRiders crowd was elated and the home team used the momentum to notch the game's next goal. The RoughRiders took the lead in the second when Trevor Stone, playing his first USHL game after spending most of the season with Springfield of the NAHL, charged past the Saints' defense for a breakaway and flicked the puck blocker side on Frey into the back of the net to make it 2-1 RoughRiders at 9:00 of the second period.
Cedar Rapids' lead didn't last long. Just 1:34 later, Dubuque's Peter Quenneville quickly answered with his 22nd goal this season at 10:34 in the second. Cedar Rapids attempted to clear the puck but John Stevens intercepted the pass in the high slot. Stevens dished the puck to Quenneville on the left wing and the forward blasted a shot over Rotolo's glove to tie the game.
Seconds into the third period Dubuque took the lead. Quenneville drove the puck into the zone on a partial breakaway and fired a slapshot that snuck past Rotolo and sat in the crease. DiChiara crashed the net and knocked the puck into the net for his second goal of the game to make it 3-2 Dubuque at:32 seconds of the third period. DiChiara would seal the win for the Fighting Saints in the final minute of the game with a goal into the empty net with Rotlolo off for the extra attacker.
Frey made several big saves in goal for the Fighting Saint including a key stick save in the third period that kept it 3-2 at the time. He recorded 18 saves and won his third game with the Fighting Saints. Dubuque and Cedar Rapids were both 0-for-3 on the powerplay. The two teams both fired 20 shots in the game.
Dubuque returns home to start a busy month on next Friday versus Cedar Rapids at 7:35 p.m for The Bernies, presented by Manor Care. Tickets to that contest, and all nine home games during the month of March, are available online at DubuqueFightingSaints.com.
United States Hockey League Stories from February 23, 2013
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