South Division Champs! Catters Clinch Despite 4-3 Shootout Loss

March 14, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Texas Wildcatters News Release


Beaumont, TX- With all but the most loyal fans counting them out at Ford Arena Friday, the newly-crowned South Division Champion Texas Wildcatters scored with 11 seconds remaining to force overtime and salvage a point in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Augusta Lynx.

Colin Nicholson's pass from behind the goal connected with Jonathan Paiement in the mid-slot, whose snap shot screamed through the five-hole of Lynx goalie J.P. Levasseur with 11.4 seconds remaining to tie the score 3-3 and treat the 2,371 in attendance to extra hockey.

The Wildcatters secured the American Conference South Division crown earlier in the evening by virtue of Gwinnett's 2-1 loss to South Carolina.

Trailing 1-0 after the first period and down 2-0 midway through the second, Cleve Kinley took a pass from across the goal mouth from John McNabb and slammed it home to bring the score to 2-1. Paiement, who had a three-point night and shootout goal, also collected an assist on the power play goal.

Riley Emmerson scored his second goal of the season in a pile-up in front of the net with 51 seconds remaining in the frame to send the game to the third period tied 2-2. Paiement and Jordie Preston gathered assists on the play.

Adrian Veideman scored a power play goal for Augusta at 5:49 to take the 3-2 lead which would stand until Paiement's last-second heroics.

Levasseur stood on his head all night, making 42 often breathtaking saves through regulation and overtime. Jeff Pietrasiak was nearly his equal making 27 stops for the Wildcatters.

Texas, who shot first in the shootout, took the early lead as Paiement put a backhander over Levasseur's blocker and Augusta's first shooter missed the net. Augusta would knot the score with their second shooter after Dan Welch's move to the blocker side hit the side of the net and the Lynx would convert. The shootout would remain tied after McNabb would convert with a glove-side deke and Ryan Dingle converted for Augusta and both team's fourth shooters were denied. Kevin Baker was unable to pull the trigger on the final Texas attempt and Matt Christie, who had three assists for Augusta, beat Pietrasiak through the five-hole to seal the win for the Lynx.

The Division title is the first for the club. The Wildcatters finished second to Florida last season and as the Huntington Blizzard finished second in the Northwest Division in 1999-2000.

The Wildcatters continue their series with the Lynx tomorrow night with "Sitel Night" at 7:05 and Sunday afternoon at 4:05.



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