Gulls Roll Over Tacoma, 6-2
March 23, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release
Woolf and Melson Lead San Diego to Fourth Straight Win
SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Gulls scored a pair of goals in each period burying the Tacoma Sabercats, 6-2, Saturday night, before 9,444 at the San Diego Sports Arena.
The Gulls (42-19-3) got things rolling with two goals in the first period. Taj Melson opened the scoring at 4:21 beating Tacoma goaltender David Goverde. Petr Marek and Joe Bianchi assisted. Marek gave San Diego a 2-0 lead at 10:57, stuffing a shot past Goverde for his 12th goal. Dan Gravelle and Melson earned the helpers.
San Diego continued its dominance in the second period netting two more goals. Dennis Purdie notched his 23rd on a power play at 9:27, deflecting home a blast from Mark Woolf. Trevor Sherban got the second assist. Then Woolf got his first of the night at 12:10. He made a nice move around the Tacoma defense and roofed a back-hander over the outstretched Goverde. John Spoltore and Jaisen Freeman assisted. The Sabercats (27-30-6) got on the board with a power-play goal by Marty Flichel at 13:58, but that was as close as they would get. The blue and orange outshot the Cats 23-5 in the middle frame.
Melson and Woolf each scored his second of the night in the third to put the game away. Melson got his - 11th of the season - two minutes into the third period from Woolf and Spoltore. Woolf put home his league-leading 48th goal two minutes later off passes from Spoltore and Sherban. Flichel got his second goal of the night and 27th of the season at 12:01, but the game was all but over.
Woolf finished the game with four points. He's now scored four or more points six times this season.
Notes: Spoltore extended his point-scoring streak to nine games, a new team high for the season. He continues to lead the league with 96 points and 71 assists. Spoltore needs five more helpers in San Diego's final eight games to break the franchise's all-time record for one season. Koenig only needs to play in three more games to set a WCHL record for goaltender appearances in one season. The record currently stands at 59. The Gulls were busy at the trade deadline signing forwards Rusty Fitzgerald and Josh Oort. Defenseman Cory Laylin will also be back in blue and orange. Fitzgerald and Laylin aren't expected to report until next week. Oort made his Gulls debut tonight. Tony Iob remains on injured reserve, but is also expected back next weekend.
The Gulls finish their longest homestand of the season Sunday against Sabercats. Faceoff is set for 5 p.m. Sunday is also a Family Day, with "Skate with the Gulls" held immediately following the game. All games can be heard live on 1130AM-KSDO and at www.ksdo.com with Chris Ello calling the play-by-play.
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