Gulls Lose in Shootout, 5-4

Published on March 7, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


BEAUMONT, Texas – Ryan Fultz may not have cut it with the San Diego Gulls, but he's fitting in just fine with the Texas Wildcatters. The former Gull bagged his first career hat trick and added another in the shootout, leading the Wildcatters to a 5-4 victory over his former squad Sunday evening at the Ford Arena.

Fultz played five games for the Gulls last season, but Steve Martinson decided to let him go. The rugged forward more than got his retribution Sunday. Fultz scored once in the first period, two more times in the second, then once more in the shootout. Chris Taliercio got the other tally for the last-place Wildcatters (18-36-5).

For San Diego, another overtime loss, but another point added to the standings. The Gulls (37-12-10) are still alone atop the Pacific Division, but are now tied with the Louisiana IceGators for the top spot in the Western Conference. They maintain the second-best overall record in the ECHL, one point ahead of the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies. The Blue and Orange are now eight points behind the front-running Wheeling Nailers, who won their 10th straight game Sunday afternoon.

San Diego, which allowed the first goal in its previous four games, drew first blood 3:22 into the first period Sunday on Sylvain Deschatelets' 19th of the season. Deschatelets took setup feeds from linemates Mark Pederson and Greg Barber, then beat Davis Parley with a wrist shot from the right wing circle.

The Wildcatters quickly tied it up at 6:56 of the first, thanks to Fultz's first goal of the game. After digging the puck out of the left wing corner, Fultz came in front and punched it by Eddy Ferhi.

Fultz cashed in his second of the game 2:49 into the second period to give Texas a 2-1 lead. The Gulls got caught on an outnumbered attack when Fultz grabbed the puck inside the San Diego zone and skated in two-on-one with John Campbell. The Wildcatter forward took care of business himself however, as he put home a wicked wrister from the right circle.

The lead was short-lived as the Gulls came right back to re-tie the game 21 seconds later on Chris Gobert's 16th tally. Mike Garrow started the play with a rocket from the point that was steered aside by Parley. Billy Tibbetts pounced on the rebound and whipped a pass to a wide-open Gobert, who pounded it into the empty net.

Fultz completed the hat trick at 11:17 of the second, giving Texas a 3-2 advantage. The puck was bouncing at center ice and Fultz picked it up, skated into the San Diego zone and beat Ferhi for his third of the game – eighth of the season.

The seesaw battle continued as Barber knotted the game 3:40 later with a short-handed marker. Dean Tiltgen poked the puck ahead to Barber, who skated into the Texas zone, faked out Parley and slid home his 24th goal of the season.

It wasn't tied for long though because Chris Taliercio banged in another Wildcatter goal at the 17:42 mark of the middle frame. He was tied up in front of the net, but Taliercio broke free at the right time and just enough to get a stick on the puck and beat Ferhi, giving Texas a 4-3 lead.

Back came the Gulls yet again as David Neale deadlocked the game at four apiece 12:11 into the third period. Gobert had control of the puck deep in the Wildcatters zone and centered it to Neale, who popped it behind Parley just before the net got knocked off its moorings. It was Neale's fifth goal of the season and first since Feb. 14.

That's how it stayed until Texas won it in the shootout period. Cory Morgan and Fultz beat Ferhi in the extra frame, while Gobert scored the lone goal for the Blue and Orange. Parley sealed the Wildcatter win when he stopped Tibbetts in the fifth round.

Notes: This was the Gulls' last regular season game outside of their division. They finished 4-3-5 against non-Pacific Division teams (3-0-4 against the Central Division and 1-3-1 against the Southern Division)... San Diego is unbeaten in its last 10 road games (4-0-6)... The Gulls have lost in regulation only twice in their last 25 games (16-2-7) and five times in their last 41 games (28-5-8)... San Diego has gone to overtime in five straight and 10 of its last 18 games... The Gulls didn't allow a power-play goal Sunday, but are just 26 for 36 on the penalty kill during the last eight games (72.2 percent)... Deschatelets, who had his career-high 11-game point streak snapped on Saturday, has scored a goal in eight of his last 10 games... Tibbetts has 15 points in his last eight games (6g, 9a)... Trevor Koenig and Josh Gratton both remain with the American Hockey League's Cincinnati Mighty Ducks. Koenig is expected to return this week... Dennis Purdie (sprained shoulder) and Kevin Grant (neck strain) both remain on the injured list...

San Diego returns home to take on the last-place Fresno Falcons Friday and Saturday before playing in Long Beach Sunday, March 14. Friday's game starts at 7:35 p.m. and free beach towels, courtesy of your San Diego County Toyota Dealers, will be given to the first 4,000 fans in attendance. Saturday's contest against Fresno begins at 7:05 p.m. and will feature the final round of the "Hooters bikini contest." Sunday's game in Long Beach is a 5 p.m. start. All games can be heard live on KPOP 1360AM and www.sandiegogulls.com with Chris Ello calling the play-by-play. The next edition of the Gulls Internet Radio show, hosted by Tera Black and Jeremy Zager on wsRadio.com, will air live Monday from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. To view pictures from this season, visit www.sdgullsphotos.com and www.zerodogentertainment.com.

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