Manatees fall to overtime breakaway goal
February 21, 2004 - SPHL (SPHL)
Miami Manatees News Release
Lakeland, Fla â The Miami Manatees (21-14-3) fell to the Lakeland Loggerheads 6-5 for the second night in a row, this time in overtime as Lakeland's Bobby Clouston scored on a breakaway as time expired. Both teams never had more than a one-goal lead and eight of the 11 goals scored came on the power-play.
The Manatees found themselves in early penalty trouble, giving the Loggerheads (9-26-5) an early 5-3 power-play opportunity on calls against Dan Donnette and Liam McCarthy. The Manatees kept the Loggerheads off the board through the 5-3, but just as Donnette came out of the box, Lakeland's Chris Harper scored at 3:59 to give the Loggerheads the first goal of the game.
The Loggerheads found themselves in penalty trouble late in the period, and the Manatees capitalized at 17:36 when Greg LeColst scored on the power-play to tie the game at one. The undisciplined play of the Loggerheads continued as they gave the Manatees another power-play chance, this time a 5-3 power-play.
Steve Howard controlled the puck at the left circle and forced a hard pass to Darcy Johnson down low. Johnson deflected the puck behind Poissant for the Manatees second goal at 19:30.
The second period started just like the first period as the Loggerheads scored first on a Joe Seroski goal at 5:08, but Darcy Johnson got his second goal of the game on another power-play opportunity. Tom Kotsopoulos fed Johnson down low on the left side. Johnson skated the puck into the crease and lifted a back-hander past Poissant at 6:27.
But despite having the worst record in the WHA2, the Loggerheads fought hard to reclaim the lead as they capitalized on two broken plays. Bobby Clouston and Joe Cerrella each beat Sean Weaver on two-on-one opportunities.
After coming out of the box at the end of a holding penalty committed at 14:33 in the second, LeColst forced a turnover high in the Loggerheads zone, collected the puck at the left circle and unleashed a shot that cleanly beat Poissant to tie the game up at 16:44. The second period came to a close after several minutes of physical play and numerous penalties to both teams, including a Loggerheads misconduct penalty at the 20:00 mark of the second.
The Manatees were able to capitalize on the power-play, when Steve Howard scored his third point of the night, scoring with two seconds left in the man advantage. Lakeland refused to quit though, getting back on the board on another power-play goal, this one courtesy of Joe Seroski at 6:13 to force the game to an overtime session where Bob Clouston decided the game on the breakaway score with .4 seconds left on the clock.
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 21, 2004
- All ahead full! Loggerheads motor over Miami - Lakeland Loggerheads
- Trax power their way to win - Macon Trax
- Manatees fall to overtime breakaway goal - Miami Manatees
- Loggerheads give Miami the boot - Lakeland Loggerheads
- Scouts, seniors see Seals - Florida Seals
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