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USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Phantoms Battle Hard All Night, Drop Game One in Overtime

April 15, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


MUSKEGON, MI- The Youngstown Phantoms (0-0-1) dropped a 5-4 overtime decision to the Muskegon Lumberjacks on Wednesday night, in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals. Forwards Kyle Connor, Josh Melnick, and Ryan Lomberg, and defenseman Vas Kolias scored the goals for the Phantoms, who scored twice in the game while shorthanded.

The Phantoms kicked the scoring off early in the game, as just 39 seconds into the contest forward Tyler Sheehy threw a shot from the left wing half wall that was batted in by Connor, putting the Phantoms up, 1-0.

"We definitely wanted to come out and set the tone early," said Connor. "Lomberg and Sheehy did a great job forechecking and Sheehy took a shot on net and I was able to tip it in."

After Muskegon received goals from Mark Petaccio, and Griffen Molino on the power play, Youngstown knotted the game back up with just 29 seconds left in the frame, while shorthanded. Connor brought the puck over the Muskegon blueline and sent a pass to Melnick who gained a step on the defender and backhanded it past Muskegon netminder Eric Schierhorn, tying the game, 2-2, after 20 minutes.

The Lumberjacks took control of the first eight minutes of the second, taking a 4-2 lead midway through the frame, on goals from defensemen Christian Wolanin and Adrian Sloboda.

The Phantoms were not deterred and pulled to within a goal, 11:15 into the period. While shorthanded, Kolias sent an outlet feed to Lomberg who snuck behind the Lumberjacks defense and roofed it on a breakaway, cutting Youngstown's deficit to 4-3.

"I thought the penalty kill did a really good job tonight," said Head Coach Anthony Noreen." Those two shorthanded goals were big momentum turners for us."

The Phantoms tied the game up roughly four minutes later, when Kolias came down the left wing and launched a wrister the beat Schierhorn, knotting the game up, 4-4, through 40 minutes.

"Obviously it felt good to contribute to the team, and I'm going to help in any way I can whenever I'm on the ice," said Kolias. "We've been down and had to come back before, so we were experienced in that moment. We were excited and knew it was a great opportunity to go out and try to capture that moment."

The two teams exchanged quality scoring opportunities in the third period and engaged in a lot of fast paced, back and forth action. The Phantoms fought through some penalty trouble in the third period, killing off three Muskegon advantages. Both goaltenders were strong in net, with each stopping all 10 shots they faced to send the game to a 4-4 tie after regulation, forcing overtime.

"There is no quit in this team. Our team is going to battle to the end and give everything we have, and tonight was a real testament to that." said Noreen. "When it was 4-2 and they were on a power play, we could have very easily folded up shop and conceded a goal, but instead we score a shortie and make it 4-3, and then get another to make it 4-4, and all of a sudden it's a one shot hockey game."

In the extra session, the Phantoms got a couple of chances early, however 4:38 in, Lumberjacks forward Matheson Iacopelli fired one past Phantoms netminder Chris Birdsall, giving Muskegon the 5-4 overtime victory in Game 1.

The Phantoms were outshot, 41-38 on the night, while the power play was held scoreless on all four opportunities. The two sides head back to Youngstown for Game 2 of this best-of-five series on Friday night. Faceoff is slated for 7:05pm.

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