Gulls Fall to Florida 3-1

Published on November 8, 2003 under ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


SAN DIEGO – Brent McDonald had a goal and an assist while Brian McCullough chipped in with two helpers, leading the Florida Everblades over the San Diego Gulls 3-1 Saturday night, before 5,434 at the Sports Arena.

The Gulls (3-2-1) and Everblades (6-2-3) combined for 11 goals Friday night, but things calmed down considerably Saturday. Maybe they wanted to crack down defensively. Maybe they wanted to give the goal judges' thumbs a break. Or maybe it was just a fluke. But one thing's for sure... it was a heck of a weekend series – 11 combined goals or (four combined) goals.

ECHL leading scorer Keith Anderson gave Florida a 1-0 lead with a shorthanded breakaway goal 12:55 into the first period. Anderson stole the puck at the Gulls blue line, then skated in and beat David Burleigh low to the stick side. It was Anderson's 11th tally of the season and extended his goal-scoring streak to nine games...

Florida took a 2-0 lead 57 seconds into the middle frame on Gray Shaneberger's second goal of the year. McCullough, who had four points Friday, grabbed the puck along the left wing boards and flipped a pass that banked in off Shaneberger. McDonald also earned an assist on the play.

Clayton Read cut the lead in half with a power-play goal at 11:44 of the second. Billy Tibbetts dug the puck out of the corner and fed the point to Read, who walked in and fired a wrist shot past Jeff Maund for his first goal of the season.

The Everblades regained their two-goal lead midway through the third on a power-play goal from McDonald. McCullough and Matt Pagnutti played catch with the puck before McDonald eventually redirected it home at the left post. It was McDonald's sixth goal of the year.

San Diego had a few power play chances later in the third, including the final 3:53 of the game, but Maund and company held the Blue and Orange at bay. Maund finished the game with 28 saves, while Burleigh turned aside 25 shots.

Notes: After Read's second-period goal, fans showered the ice with thousands of stuffed toys, which will be donated to underprivileged children throughout the San Diego community... The Gulls will also donate another $625 to the San Diego wildfire victims, $25 for every Burleigh save... Tibbetts extended his point streak to five games... He's scored seven points in the last three games... Dennis Purdie played in his 200th career Gulls game Friday. He needs six more points for 500 in his professional career... Head coach Steve Martinson needs 12 more wins for 400 all-time. He's been the only coach in Gulls franchise history... Florida's Ryan Van Buskirk served the fourth of a five-game suspension...

San Diego now embarks on a four-game road trip, which starts with a pair of games Tuesday and Wednesday in Anchorage, Alaska. Both games against the Aces begin at 8 p.m. (PST). The Gulls then play in Bakersfield Friday and Long Beach Saturday, with both of those contests starting at 7 p.m. (PST). All games can be heard on KPOP 1360AM with Chris Ello calling the play-by-play. The Gulls' Internet radio show, hosted by Tera Black and Jeremy Zager on wsradio.com, will begin airing biweekly soon. Stay tuned for more details.

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