FireAntz Invade Cajundome, Bite IceGators
December 4, 2015 - SPHL (SPHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release
LAFAYETTE, La.--Opportunity knocked on the doors of the Cajundome Friday night.
The Fayetteville FireAntz answered.
The visitors capitalized on countless Louisiana IceGator errors to pick up a 3-1 victory. Parker Van Buskirk played brilliantly in goals for Fayetteville, stopping 37 of the IceGators' 38 shots. Fayetteville's penalty kill unit also contributed to the victory, shutting down each of Louisiana's six power play opportunities.
The FireAntz and the IceGators meet again Sunday in the Cajundome. Game time is set for 3:05 p.m.
"I think we had more positives than negatives, but we're still making some simple mistakes that are leading to major turnovers." IceGators head coach Drew Omicioli said. "The first goal was a fluke. The second goal was a mid-slit shot where our wing and defensemen should have been there to stop it. They missed their assignments. The third goal came off a pass right up the middle that led to an odd-man rush that led to the score. Those three mistakes cost us the game.
"Our power play looked fantastic. We moved the puck around, but (Von Buskirk) was a brick wall. I have to give him credit."
Fayetteville capitalized on poor IceGator puck handling in their own zone early in the second period. Bennett Schneider scored 89 seconds into the frame on an odd-angle shot that may have deflected off an IceGator to put the FireAntz ahead 1-0.
The IceGators bounced back in the third period, tying the game on a Geordie Wudrick score 5:31 into the final frame.
The IceGators nearly took a 2-1 lead moments later, but the scoring shot was waved off on a high stick call.
The FireAntz then regained their momentum. Nick Lazorko put Fayetteville ahead 2-1 with 10:52 left in regulation, while Josh McQuade tacked on an insurance goal with 2:49 left in the game.
"We have to set the tempo of every game, and we didn't do that," Omicioli said. "When you're in front of your home fans, you have to have the mentality that you're playing for the kill, and we didn't do it. We played with that killer instinct in the last 40 minutes, but those mental breakdowns hurt us. We gave them opportunities on plays where we weren't thinking."
Injuries also hurt the IceGators late in the game. Dan Cornell left the game with a leg injury, while Luke Kasteel returned to the locker room with a stomach virus.
Omicioli says his players need to find a way to climb out of the current slump and return to form for the final three quarters of the season.
"For a team that's this talented and had close to 70 shots in the last two games with only one goal--I don't know if they're gripping their sticks too tight or what, but we need guys who can finish," Omicioli said. "It's a game of execution. We're getting opportunities, but we're not executing."
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- FireAntz Invade Cajundome, Bite IceGators - Louisiana IceGators
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