Last Minute Heroics Spoiled in Overtime

Published on December 10, 2003 under ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release


FRESNO, Calif. – Brad Mehalko tied the game at four with 32.1 seconds to play in regulation, only to see the Alaska Aces' Charles Linglet spoil his last-minute heroics with a game-winning goal two minutes into overtime as the Aces defeated the Fresno Falcons on Tuesday, 5-4, at Save Mart Center.

Attempting to snap a seven-game losing streak, the Falcons fell behind 1-0 for the seventh time in their last eight games when Mike Scott put home a rebound for Alaska 4:47 into the first period. Fresno's Boris Protsenko tied the game with his first goal in his first shift as a Falcon just :13 seconds later to knot the game at one. The teams then traded goals mid-way through the frame and headed to the second tied at two.

The Falcons took their only lead of the evening at 2:13 of the middle frame as John Wroblewski fed Blair Clarance in the slot for the latter's first goal wearing a Fresno sweater. The Aces would tie things at three with a power play goal off the stick of Wes Dorey at 8:56 of the second.

Neither team scored through the remainder of the second and into the third until Dave Csumrik kept the puck himself while leading a two-on-one, wristing the go-ahead goal past Fresno netminder Terry Friesen at 15:50 of the third with the teams skating four aside.

Trailing 4-3, the Falcons pulled Friesen in favor of an extra attacker with exactly one minute to play before Mehalko settled the puck down between the circles and beat Alaska goaltender Lance Mayes at 19:27, tying the game at four.

In the four-on-four overtime, Friesen stopped two Aces' efforts from point-blank range before Linglet shoveled in a rebound for the game-winner at the 2:00 mark, giving Alaska the 5-4 victory.

The loss marked Fresno's eighth straight game without a win, dating back to Nov. 21 and a 2-1 victory against the Long Beach Ice Dogs. The team remains in sixth place in the Pacific Division with a record of 7-13-2 and 16 points.

The club continues its current five-game homestand when they welcome the Charlotte Checkers to Save Mart Center tomorrow night beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets begin as low as $8 for students and can be purchased at the Save Mart Center box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, which include select Save Mart Supermarkets, Rite Aid, Tower Records, and Ritmo Latino locations, charged by phone at 485-TIXS or bought online by clicking the Ticketmaster icon throughout www.fresnofalcons.com.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



ECHL Stories from December 10, 2003


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central