ECHL Cincinnati Cyclones

Pierce Delivers Hat Trick In Cyclones 6-3 Win

Published on October 31, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Cincinnati Cyclones News Release


WHEELING, West Virginia - The Cincinnati Cyclones used a three goal performance from rookie Matt Pierce, a three-point effort from Bryan Marshall and a three power play goal effort from its man-advantage unit Saturday night to take a 6-3 victory over the Wheeling Nailers.

The Cyclones played the game severely shorthanded, as six players missed the game due to injury and three others are currently skating with American Hockey League clubs. Cincinnati started the contest with nine forwards and five defensemen-ECHL rules allow for ten and six. The Cyclones only reached 14 players after signing Mark O'Leary to a contract earlier in the day.

The Cyclones scored the lone goal of the first period at 18:37, with a power play goal from Matt Pierce. The play originated with a Reid Cashman shot from the right point and was deflected by Pierce who was in the low slot past Jordan Parise, rookie Brett Robinson added the other assist. The shots on goal favored Cincinnati, 10-8, in the opening frame.

The second period was the most explosive offensively of the season as six goals were netted between the teams. Pierce picked up his second score of the night and fifth of the year with the man-advantage at 1:08, as Jon Landry and Dustin Sproat handed out the assists. Wheeling cut the deficit to 2-1 at 3:49 when Pierce Norton scored his second of the campaign. That set off a string of rapid-fire scores, as Bryan Marshall notched his first with Cincinnati just ten seconds later (3:59) from Bryan Leitch and Dwayne Zinger. Twenty-six seconds later, the Nailers cut the lead to 3-2 when Andrew Lord tallied his third score. Marshall's second score of the night restored the two goal edge at 4-2, as Leitch and Cashman passed off the assists. Wheeling would net the final score of the dizzying frame at 12:22 when Ryan Schnell collected his first pro goal to pull to within one at 4-3. The shots on goal again favored Cincinnati, 11-9.

The three goals in the second period marked the first time this season that Cincinnati had accomplished the feat. The club netted 22 periods of three or more goals a year ago.

In the third period, McLean netted his second goal of the year two seconds after a power play expired to re-build the two goal pad. The score at 1:26 came courtesy of Brock Sheahan and Marshall-who collected his third point of the night. Pierce finished off his first pro hat trick at 14:04 with a long pass from Sproat as he came up the middle of the ice and slipped past the defense. The shots on goal again favored Cincinnati, 9-6, and for the contest the Cyclones outshot Wheeling, 30-23.

Robert Mayer took his first pro victory by stopping 20 shots. Jordan Parise dropped to 1-3 on the season, re-directing 24 shots. The win lifts Cincinnati's record to 4-2 on the year, while Wheeling drops to 2-6-1. The Cyclones host Johnstown on Thursday night and Toledo on Friday night-both games at 7:30pm.

Tickets for the 2009-10 Cincinnati Cyclones season are now on sale. The Cyclones Sales Department can be reached at 513-421-PUCK, extension 3. Selected Friday night games are carried on 1530-AM Homer, while all 72 regular season games can be heard on the club's website at: www.cycloneshockey.com. The next 1530 Homer game is on Friday, November 20 at Toledo.

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