For Immediate Release:
November 19, 2016
DAWGS BLANKED BY EVANSVILLE, 4-0
Evansville’s Justin MacDonald records hat trick
ROANOKE, VA – The Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs out-shot the Evansville Thunderbolts, 26-21, but were shut out, 4-0, Saturday night at the Berglund Center. Evansville forward Justin MacDonald recorded a hat trick in the victory.
Evansville started fast with a goal on its first shot of the game. Frank Schumacher slid a backhand pass to Josh Harris who redirected it past Ryan de Melo to put Evansville on top, 1-0.
In the second period, the Thunderbolts again got going quickly. MacDonald carried the puck into the slot and went to the backhand to beat de Melo. His first of the game extended the Evansville lead to two.
Roanoke was able to mount some pressure in the third but it was MacDonald who put it out of reach. With just over seven minutes to go, he took a pass from Brad Bourke on the left wing and fired a snap shot beat de Melo blocker side to make it, 3-0.
The Dawgs got a power play in the final moments of the third and pulled de Melo for an extra attacker. With the vacant net in front of him, MacDonald picked up a loose puck at center ice and flung it for the yawning cage for the empty net goal to complete the hat trick.
Roanoke finished 0-for-3 on the power play and dropped to 4-4-2 with the loss. Evansville won its second straight game and improved to 2-8-3.
The Rail Yard Dawgs will return to action on Friday at 7:30 PM in Knoxville against the Ice Bears, before traveling to Fayetteville to see the FireAntz on Saturday. Roanoke’s next home game is set for December 2 against Hunsville.
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