Falcons Down Aces for First Win of Season

October 23, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release


Fresno, Calif. - The Fresno Falcons earned their first win of the 2007-08 season, and improved to 1-0-2, with a 4-2 win over the Alaska Aces on Tuesday in front of 3,081 fans at Save Mart Center.

Jarrett Konkle scored his first goal of the season 2:24 into the opening period, giving Fresno its first lead of the season. Konkle gathered in a rebound off of the post, and pushed the puck into an open net to give the Falcons the early 1-0 lead.

Alaska pulled even with a shorthanded goal at 5:19. Barrett Heisten stole the puck from Falcons' goaltender John Ceci, and fed Olivier Filion who put the puck into the net for his first goal of the season.

The Falcons regained their lead at 14:07. Joe Van Culin skated into the right-wing circle of the Aces' zone, and had his shot stopped by goaltender Chris Beckford-Tseu, but the rebound squirted free into the crease, and Luke Curtin put the puck home for his first of the year.

Fresno added another goal in the final minute of the period to take a 3-1 lead through 20 minutes. Van Culin blasted a shot from the top of the right-wing circle, beating Beckford-Tseu high over the right shoulder for his first pro goal.

The three first-period goals matched Fresno's goal output in the first three games of the season.

Fresno maintained the 3-1 lead until midway through the third period, when Oren Eizenman poked the puck past Beckford-Tseu on a goal-mouth scramble for a power-play goal extending the Falcons' lead to 4-1.

Alaska cut the Fresno lead to two with a power-play goal at 9:41. Filion fed Matt Shasby cutting in from the blue line, and the Aces' defensemen slid a shot past Ceci from the left-wing circle to make it a 4-2 game.

The loss was just the second in the last 27 ECHL appearances for Beckford-Tseu, and his first since January 2006 against San Digeo.

Ceci earned the win in his pro debut, turning aside 31 Alaska shots.

Fresno's home stand continues on Friday, as the Falcons once again host Alaska at 7:30 p.m. It's Schedule Poster Night, with the first 2,000 fans in attendance receiving a 2007-08 Falcons Schedule Poster courtesy of Dumont Printing and Mega 97.9.

Tickets for all Falcons' home games can be purchased at the Save Mart Center Box Office, or through TicketMaster at (559) 485-TIXS or www.ticketmaster.com. All Falcons' games air on 790 ESPN Radio, The Deuce, starting with the Port of Subs Pre-Game Show 15 minutes prior to face-off.



ECHL Stories from October 23, 2007


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