Rangers Win Thriller
January 30, 2009 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Marquette Rangers News Release
Marquette - It can't be said the Marquette Rangers home games are dull.
Garrett Ladd put this finishing touched on a long and suspenseful evening at Lakeview Arena with five seconds remaining in overtime as the Rangers knocked off the US National Team Development Program by a final of 4-3.
"Our guys just seem to find a way to win at home," head coach Kenny Miller said afterward. "We really want to win these games at home, our guys really enjoy the games at Lakeview and I really think we skate a little harder here."
"We needed some confidence after coming off some road games where things didn't go our way, so with 13 of our last 16 here at home this is a pretty good start."
Marquette Native Jim Gallagher opened the scoring for the Rangers at 4:50 of the first period with Ladd and Kent Daavettila adding the assists.
Team USA would tie the game at 11:15 when Shane Sooth beat Rangers goaltender Dan Sullivan on a tip in from right in front of the Marquette net.
The USNTDP opened the scoring in the second period when Mathew Nieto lit the lamp behind Sullivan for a 2-1 lead at the 8:54 mark with assists to Jacob Fallon and Michael Mersch.
Ladd would get his first of the night at 10:14 to tie the game at two apiece with Jackson Spivey and Gallagher picking up the helpers.
Both Ladd and Gallagher finished with three point nights for Marquette in the win.
Gallagher's second of the game at 15:15 would give the Rangers a short lived 3-2 lead before USA's Chase Balisey knotted the game at 19:43.
The third period went scoreless setting the stage for the dramatic overtime finish.
Miller was quick to praise his scorers after the game.
"Those three (Ladd, Gallagher and Colin Smith) have really come on as we head down the stretch, they lead us in a lot of different ways both on and off this ice. We'll need that to continue, and for some other guys to step up too for us to have a successful finish to the year."
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North American Hockey League Stories from January 30, 2009
- North Stars halt Machine, 5-1 - Traverse City North Stars
- U.S. National Under-17 Falls to Marquette, 4-3, in OT - U.S. National Team
- Rangers Win Thriller - Marquette Rangers
- U.S. Nat'l U18 Team Drops RIT, 6-3 - U.S. National Team
- Phantoms Explode to 6-1 Rout of Alpena - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- RoadRunners Hit Milestones - Topeka Pilots
- Stars host Motor City, then hit the road - Traverse City North Stars
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