Shootout Propels Fighting Saints over Gamblers
Published on October 5, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
DUBUQUE, Iowa - Shane Sooth's success in shootouts continued just when the Fighting Saints needed it. The captain scored to keep Dubuque alive in the third round, and Frankie DiChiara followed with a goal in round four, to give Dubuque a 3-2 win in a shootout over the Green Bay Gamblers on the road at the Resch Center on Friday.
Eric Freschi scored in regulation for Dubuque, and Mike Szmatula continued his hot hand for the Fighting Saints, tallying a powerplay goal in the second period to go along with an assist.
The Fighting Saints had to play from behind, as the only goal of the first period went to Green Bay's Grigory Dikushin at 12:02. Dubuque turned the puck over behind the goal, and the pass was made to the front of the net where Dikushin was standing. He sniped a shot over the blocker of Dubuque goalie Connor Girard to put Green Bay up 1-0.
Dubuque respond early in the second frame with Freschi's goal. Only 1:45 into the period, Dubuque worked the puck behind the goal on a strong shift with several offensive chances. Szmatula dished the puck in front to a wide-open Freschi who fired a shot low along the ice, under the pad of Gambler goalie Richard Sabol to tie the game at one. Jeff Taylor also tallied an assist on the goal.
Szmatula struck for his third goal of the season on the powerplay at 14:03 of the second. Dubuque entered the zone on the powerplay, and Szmatula attempted to feed Sooth in front, but the puck hit a Green Bay players stick and deflected up and over the goaltender into the net to put Dubuque up 2-1.
The lead didn't last long as Green Bay responded 21 seconds later as Ryan Siroky banked a shot from behind the goal line off of Girard to even the game. Both teams failed to score in the third period and overtime, sending the game to a shootout.
Kyle Novak put Green Bay up 1-0 in the shootout heading into the third round. Sooth scored with Dubuque's back against the wall to keep the shootout alive. Sooth used his well-known shootout move, swinging wide to the right and banking a shot off the left post and in. Girard stopped a pair of Green Bay shooters, and in-between those two, Frankie DiChiara scored on a beautiful fake shot, backhand move, where the puck hit the top crossbar and went in to give Dubuque the win.
The Fighting Saints are now 2-0 on the season. After not losing back-to-back games all season in 2011-12, Green Bay has now lost three in a row. Girard stopped 20 shots in the win as Dubuque outshot Green Bay 32-22. The Fighting Saints are at home Saturday night versus the Fargo Force at 7:05 p.m. Hockey 101 will be taking place at the Mystique Community Ice Center, as the Fighting Saints will help educate fans further on the game of hockey. Tickets are available online at DubuqueFightingSaints.com or by calling 563.583.6880.
United States Hockey League Stories from October 5, 2012
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- Shootout Propels Fighting Saints over Gamblers - Dubuque Fighting Saints
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