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Falcons Drop 5-4 OT Decision to Condors

March 22, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release


Bakersfield, Calif. - For the second straight night, the Fresno Falcons saw an opposing team tie the game in the closing minute of regulation and then record an overtime win, as the Bakersfield Condors took home a 5-4 win in front of 4,302 fans at Rabobank Arena.

With the one point for the overtime loss, the Falcons close to within one point of Idaho for fourth place in the National Conference standings.

The Falcons scored the lone goal of the opening period just 28 seconds into the contest. John Wroblewski made a nice play to keep the puck in the Bakersfield zone, and fed Brett Hammond in the right-wing circle. His shot was turned aside by goaltender Rejean Beauchemin, but the rebound rolled free to Brian McConnell in the left-wing circle, and he scored on a wrist shot to the top shelf for his sixth goal of the season.

Bakersfield took a 2-1 lead into the final period, scoring a pair of goals in the first 5:01 of the second period. Josh Liebenow tied the score for Bakersfield 46 seconds into the period, scoring a shorthanded goal as he beat Ryan MacDonald with a wrist shot from the left-wing circle.

The Condors took the lead at 5:01. Kevin St. Jacques' wrap-around attempt on the near post missed wide of the net, but Brett Lutes kept the puck alive on the right-wing side, sending a quick shot back to the front of the net, and beating MacDonald for his 28th goal of the season.

Jake Pence scored his first professional goal 3:31 into the third period, tying the game at two. Pence's centering feed deflected off of Beauchemin's skate and rolled into the net.

Just 22 seconds later, the Falcons retook the lead as Brett Hammond took a pass from Pence, and pushed a puck home from the left-wing circle for his eighth goal of the season.

Bakersfield pulled even once again at 6:57. Lutes, who had just come out of the penalty box, took a pass from Sean Venedam, and beat MacDonald with a wrist shot from the right-wing circle for his second goal of the night.

Fresno regained its advantage at 9:37 as Matt O'Dette kept a clearing attempt in at the right point, and sent a shot to the front of the net that beat Beauchemin over the blocker pad for his fifth goal of the season.

Bakersfield tied the game at 19:27 of the third period with its second shorthanded goal of the night. With Beauchemin on the bench for an extra attacker, Liebenow sent a shot to the net from the corner that sat free in the crease, and was pushed home by Alex Kim for his 15th goal of the season.

In the extra session, the Condors got a 2-on-1 rush in the closing minute, and Lutes pushed the rebound of a shot past MacDonald for his third goal of the night, sending the Falcons to their second straight overtime loss.

Fresno's three game road trip continues on Saturday with a 7:11 p.m. face-off at US Airways Center against the Phoenix RoadRunners. Catch all of the action on 1550 and 96.1 Sporting News Radio starting with the Port of Subs Pre-Game Show at 6:55.

The Falcons return home on Friday, March 30, hosting the Bakersfield Condors at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for all Falcons home games can be purchased at the Save Mart Center Box Office, by phone at (559) 485-8497, on-line at www.ticketmaster.com, or at any TicketMaster outlet. All Falcons' games air on 1550 and 96.1 Sporting News Radio starting with the Port of Subs Pre-Game Show 15 minutes prior to face off.

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