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Machine Falter against USA, 5-2

November 17, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Motor City Metal Jackets News Release


Ann Arbor, Mich. - Nick Taurence (Trenton, Mich.) and Anthony Iaquinto (Howell, Mich.) scored for Motor City but it wasn't enough as Luke Moffatt (Paradise Valley, Ariz.) powered USA to a 5-2 win at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube.   The Machine were doomed from the start as Stephen Johns put a deflected shot past Joe Rogers to open up the scoring for USA, 1-0. The goal was just under two minutes into the game and caused the Machine to begin the uphill battle.   Though both teams skated hard in the first but it was Motor City who had the most chances to take a lead and hold on. Will Yanakeff continued to impress with 14 big saves en route to a 1-0 first period lead.   Things wouldn't get any easier as the Machine opened with a power play but couldn't get the puck out of their zone and Moffatt made them pay with an unassisted shorthanded goal upping the USA lead to 2-0 early in the period.   Motor City couldn't find answer to Yanakeff's big saves from the first that carried over to the second in which he made a total of three more. Given that, USA used another goal by Michael Mersch (Park Ridge, Ill.) to make it 3-0.   Not much would be done by the Machine as they dropped another goose egg in the second period trailing 3-0.    Mersch would lead the charge again to start play in the third, as Motor City turned the puck over on their own blue line leading to the Mersch unassisted goal, 4-0 USA.   Though not all was lost, Iaquinto would sneak one past Yanakeff bringing Motor City to their first goal at the Cube and against him.   Nick Taurence took the feed from Ryan Misiak and Jake Friedman top shelf to beak Yanakeff for the second time cutting the deficit in half, 4-2.   After a Ben Danford tripping call, USA wasted no time as Moffatt drug Rogers out of net for the wrap around power-play goal.    USA would never look back as the rolled to a 5-2 win Sunday night in front of packed house.   Moffatt had two goals including the game winning goal while Mersch put home two of his own. Yanakeff finished with 24 saves collecting his second against the Machine this season. Taurence and Iaquinto had goals for Motor City while Rogers was defeated making 29 saves for his effort.

The Motor City Machine is in their first season in Michigan as members of the North American Hockey League. The Motor City Machine are formerly the Southern MN Express in which they made the playoffs three straight years and twice into the Robertson Cup finals. The NAHL is the nation's largest Junior A hockey league and is now in its 33rd year of operation. For more information, visit machinehockey.com or call (734) 642-0544.

Machine home games will be played at the Yack Arena in Wyandotte, Mich. All games are broadcast on machinehockey.com and video broadcast through B/2 Network.

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North American Hockey League Stories from November 17, 2008


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