Pride's unbeaten streak ends at hands of Cottonmouths

March 20, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz News Release


COLUMBUS, GA - The Columbus Cottonmouths scored two power-play goals and added two shorthanded goals on their way to a 6-3 win over the Florence Pride Saturday night at the Columbus Civic Center.

Columbus took a 3-0 lead to the first intermission, scoring three goals in a 6:24 span in the second half of the first period.

Mitch Fritz started the scoring, blasting a shot past Sebastien Laplante from the left-wing circle at the 12:24 mark.

At 15:57, the Cottonmouths' tallied a power-play goal, as Ray DiLauro's slap shot from the right-wing circle beat Laplante to the stick side.

Columbus finished its three-goal flurry at the 18:48 mark, scoring a shorthanded goal. The Pride could not keep the puck in the Cottonmouths' zone, allowing Columbus to come back the other way. Matt Shasby gathered in the puck, and from the left-wing circle, took a quick wrist shot, beating Laplante to the short side.

John Morlang gave the Cottonmouths a 4-0 lead with another shorthanded goal at the 5:56 mark of period number two. Morlang was open on the far post, and Rumun Ndur hit him with a perfect feed as Morlang tipped the puck past Laplante for his 18th of the season.

The Pride finally found the back of the net at 7:49. Allan Sirois gathered in a pass from Riku Rahiakainen and skated across the Cottonmouths line. From just inside the line, Sirois blated a slap shot that beat Jason Tapp high to the glove side for his 14th goal of the season.

The Cottonmouths reestablished their four-goal lead 4:38 into the final period. On a power play, Colin Pepperall was left open on the far post, and he was able to jam a shot past Laplante for his 18th marker of the season.

Just 51 seconds later, Columbus took a 6-1 lead when Dan Tessier found Carlyle Lewis wide open in front of the net, and it was Lewis beating Laplante for his 20th goal of the season.

Wes Goldie made it 6-2 with his 35th goal of the season at the 11:18 mark, beating Tapp with a long shot from just inside the blue line. It was Goldie's third goal in the last three games. The Pride pulled within 6-3 just 1:46 later as Brian Reaney tipped in a Kyle Kidney rebound for his third goal of the season.

Florence's four-game road trip continues Tuesday, with a 7:00 face-off at the North Charleston Coliseum against the South Carolina Stingrays. The Palmetto Chiropractic Pre-Game Show starts at 6:40 on WDAR Sunny 105.5 FM and www.florencepride.com. The Pride return home Saturday, March 27, hosting the Augusta Lynx at 7:30. Tickets are available at the Florence Civic Center Box Office, or through TicketMaster at (843) 679-9333 or www.ticketmaster.com.



ECHL Stories from March 20, 2004


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