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USHL Dubuque Fighting Saints

Saints to Finish Third After 3-1 Loss to Youngstown

April 4, 2014 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, OH- The Dubuque Fighting Saints had chance after chance Friday night, but Youngstown Phantoms goaltender Sean Romeo prevented the visiting squad from staying in the race for second place in the USHL's Eastern Conference. Dubuque fell 3-1 at the Covelli Centre on Friday despite outshooting the Phantoms 39-28. With the loss, the Fighting Saints will finish in third place in the USHL's Eastern Conference, and will begin the 2014 Clark Cup Playoffs on the road at second seeded Cedar Rapids.

Dubuque peppered Youngstown goaltender Sean Romeo with 17 shots in the first period but came up empty handed. Romeo was strong between the pipes, and his team rewarded him late in the period. In his 40th game of the season, and Youngstown's 59th game of the year, Steven Ruggiero scored his first goal of the season. A shot from Kyle Connor was denied by Dubuque netminder Kevin Reich, but the rebound fell near the goaltender's feet. It sat loose near his right pad before Ruggiero swooped in and poked the rebound into the net at the 14:29 mark to make it 1-0 Phantoms.

In the second period, Dubuque continued to carry the play, but it was again Youngstown who scored. On their first rush into the Dubuque zone, the Phantoms struck on Zach Evancho's 8th goal of the season. Josh Melnick centered the ouck to Evancho who roofed a shot over Reich's glove. That made it 2-0 Youngstown at 3:18, and ended Reich's evening, who was replaced by Ben Johansson in goal for the second straight game.

Kyle Connor added to Dubuque's deficit, scoring just after a powerplay expired at the 9:12. JJ Piccinich passed the puck from the slot to Connor on the left side of the net. Johansson found himself out of position and Connor tapped the puck into the open net for his 31st goal of the season to make it 3-0 Youngstown.

Dubuque's evening was summed up just seconds after the Connor goal. Shane Eiserman streaked in a on a breakaway. He made the move he wanted and beat Romeo, but the shot hit the post to keep Dubuque off the scoreboard.

Dubuque finally found the back of the net midway through the third period. Karson Kuhlman scored the Fighting Saints lone goal of the game, tallying his 24th goal of the season on the powerplay at 10:05. Jacob Benson got a pass from Seamus Malone behind the net. He threw the puck from the behind the net to Kuhlman out front. The forward deflected the shot past Romeo to make it 3-1, but Dubuque was unable to score again.

The Fighting Saints close out the regular season tomorrow night in Ann Arbor, Michigan with a contest against Team USA U-17. Puck drop is slated for 6 p.m. and the game can be heard on Super Hits 106.1 FM. Dubuque will then begin play in the 2014 Clark Cup Playoffs. The Eastern Conference Semifinals best-of-five series versus Cedar Rapids begins on Friday, April 11 in Cedar Rapids. Game 2 is Saturday, April 12 in Cedar Rapids. Dubuque will host the RoughRiders on Friday, April 18 at 7:35 p.m. at the Mystique Community Ice Center for Game 3. If necessary, Game 4 will be played in Dubuque on Saturday, April 19 at 7:05 p.m. If needed, a deciding Game 5 would be on Monday, April 21 at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena. Tickets to both Dubuque home games are now available by calling 563.583.6880 or online at DubuqueFightingSaints.com.

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