For Immediate Release:
November 3, 2017
DAWGS COME UP SHORT AGAINST THUNDERBOLTS, 4-2
Riley Spraggs, Mitchell Mueller each score in losing effort
ROANOKE, VA – The Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs allowed three goals in the second period and never led as they were defeated by the Evansville Thunderbolts, 4-2, Friday night at the Berglund Center.
After a scoreless first period that saw the Dawgs out-shoot the Thunderbolts 11-7, Evansville came out firing in the second. Chase Nieuwendyk got the scoring started with a short-side stuff attempt that snuck through Brad Barone just 75 seconds into the frame. Just over a minute later Justin MacDonald found the puck in the slot and wristed one over Barone’s blocker that extended the lead to 2-0.
Roanoke got itself going later in the period when Riley Spraggs took the puck on the left wing. He curled around the faceoff circle and blistered a snapshot that beat Tomas Sholl, cutting the deficit to one.
Evansville once again extended its advantage later in the period however, again thanks to MacDonald. His shot from the point navigated traffic and snuck past Barone to make it 3-1.
In the final minutes of the period the Dawgs were able to swing back, thanks in part to a holding penalty against Evansville. Nick Schneider teed up Mitchell Mueller for a slap shot that found its way to the back of the net. The power play marker was Mueller’s first goal of the season and once again brought the Dawgs within one.
That was as close as Roanoke would get though as Evansville used a rebound goal from Jackson Leef in the third to extend the lead to 4-2 and give itself some breathing room and eventually win the game. The Thunderbolts improved to 2-2-1 with the win while the Dawgs fell to 1-2-0.
Barone made 29 saves on 33 shots in the loss while Sholl earned the win with 32 saves on 34 shots. Roanoke and Evansville will match wits again on Saturday night at the Berglund Center. Puck drop for Star Wars Night is scheduled for 7:05 PM.
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