Loggerheads' three third period goals sink Manatees, 6-4
February 20, 2004 - SPHL (SPHL)
Miami Manatees News Release
Macon, Ga â The Loggerheads got three goals in the third period to pull ahead of the visiting Miami Manatees by a score of 6-4 Friday night.
Tom Kotsopoulos got the Manatees on the board first. After a scrum on the near boards at center ice, the puck popped free and Kotsopoulos scooped it up for a breakaway chance on Carl Poissant. Kotsopoulos's slap-shot from the bottom of the left circle beat Poissant five-hole for the goal at 5:34.
The Loggerheads tied the game up at 7:43 on a Chris Cerrella goal, but the Manatees answered right back at 11:18. Greg LeColst forced a turnover at center ice and started off on a two-on-one with Kevin Swider. The Loggerheads defenseman eliminated the passing options, so LeColst's wrist-shot from the right circle trickled past Poissant to put the Manatees ahead by one.
Lakeland had a chance to tie the game on a penalty shot, but Sean Weaver denied Jeff Glowa on the penalty-shot attempt to preserve the one goal lead. The Manatees lead didn't last long though as Curtis Sayler got his first goal of the year on a power-play at 16:22 to end the scoring in the first period.
The second period displayed the same trend as the first period as each team exchanged goals. Lakeland's Joe Seroski went in alone on Weaver and deposited his own rebound at 9:21.
Answering back for the Manatees was the line of players who pride themselves on doing the dirty work. Darren Cain, Josh Liebenow, and Dan Donnette circled low in the Loggerheads zone keeping the puck away from the defense for more than a minute. The play finally developed when Liebenow found Donnette situated to the right of Poissant. Donnette immediately found Cain streaking to the far post where he shot the puck under Poissant for the goal at 12:49.
But the trend was broken in the third as the Loggerheads rattled off three goals from Glowa, Sayler, and Cerrella in 2:16 to put the Manatees in a three goal hole. The Manatees attempted to rally late in the third as Liebenow got on the board at 17:37, but it wasn't enough as the Manatees ended their winning streak at three games.
Sean Weaver made 30 saves in the loss, while Poissant earned his second win of the season by making 29 saves.
The Manatees return to Lakeland Saturday night before heading to Jacksonville for a matinee game. The Manatees next home game is February 28th against the Alabama Slammers.
The Miami Manatees face off against the Alabama Slammers, Jacksonville Barracudas, Lakeland Loggerheads, Macon Trax, and Orlando Seals in the WHA2's inaugural season. All games are broadcast on www.irn.fm.
Individual and Group Tickets for the Miami Manatees are now on sale. For further information, please contact the Manatees at (305) 536-PUCK (7825) or visit www.miamimanatees.com.
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SPHL Stories from February 20, 2004
- Loggerheads' three third period goals sink Manatees, 6-4 - Miami Manatees
- This week in the WHA2 - SPHL
- Manatees back in action for three road games in three nights - Miami Manatees
- Seals beaten in OT - Florida Seals
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