Falcons Fall to Condors in Shootout
November 17, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release
FRESNO, Calif. â The Fresno Falcons came one step closer to finally beating the Bakersfield Condors, falling this time in a shootout, 4-3, to their southern rival in front of 8,761 fans at Selland Arena. The Falcons continued to struggle overall, as they are now winless in five of their last six games including their last four at Selland Arena.
Fresno drew first blood on Kris Porter's team-leading eighth goal of the season at the 8:18 mark of the first period to give his club the early 1-0 lead. Bakersfield tied the game up less than six minutes later on Jeff Goldie's sixth goal of the season, as the two teams skated to the locker room tied at one after the first period.
The Condors took the lead seven minutes into the second period when Jason Ralph scored his fifth goal of the season for the 2-1 advantage. Just six seconds after the Condors took that lead, Fresno rookie Colin Embley won the subsequent face-off and sprung free for an unassisted goal for his seventh goal of the season, which leads all WCHL rookies.
The two teams again exchanged goals in the third period as Cory Murphy gave the Falcons the lead with his first goal of the season in the opening two minutes of the period, only to see that lead go by the wayside three minutes later on Shawn Byram's fourth goal of the year. In the shootout, both goaltenders stoned the first three shooters they faced, but Falcons netminder Terry Friesen allowed the final two Condors to beat him for the victory and the two points.
Friesen made 28 saves between the pipes for the Falcons while his counterpart, Kevin St. Pierre, stopped 30 shots for his sixth victory over the Falcons this season. Fresno's special teams stepped up their game a bit from the previous night, scoring on one of their four power play chances while stopping the Condors on both of their opportunities.
The Falcons earned one point for their efforts Saturday night, moving their record to 6-6-1 with 13 points. Despite earning the point, the Falcons remain in fourth place in the WCHL standings, one point behind the San Diego Gulls and four points behind the Condors. Their record against Bakersfield this season moved to 0-5-1 while they are now 5-4-1 on home ice.
The team will return to the ice on Tuesday, Nov. 19, to host the Gulls at 7 p.m. Tuesday's game is another Two for Tuesday, sponsored by Carl's Jr., KMPH Fox 26 and KRZR. Fans can pick up their two-for-one coupons at participating Carl's Jr. restaurants. Tickets are also available at the Selland Arena box office, all Ticketmaster outlets or by going on-line at www.ticketmaster.com.
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ECHL Stories from November 17, 2002
- Aces Finally Break Through at Sully - Alaska Aces
- Anchorage Beats Gulls, 5-1 - San Diego Gulls
- Ice Pilots beat Kingfish 3-1 - Baton Rouge Kingfish
- Bandits Slip Past Sea Wolves, 3-2 in the Shootout - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Storm Make Roster Moves - Toledo Walleye
- Aces lose shootout, 2-1 - Alaska Aces
- Falcons Fall to Condors in Shootout - Fresno Falcons
- Gulls Defeat Anchorage, 2-1 in Shootout - San Diego Gulls
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