For Immediate Release:
October 13, 2018
DAWGS FALL TO FAYETTEVILLE IN OVERTIME, 4-3
Roanoke drops lone scheduled preseason game
ROANOKE, Va. – Michael Economos scored twice, Tanner Creel and Jacob Caffrey combined for 17 saves to keep the Fayetteville Marksmen off the board for the first two periods but the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs allowed three third period goals and fell to Fayetteville in overtime, 4-3, Saturday night at Berglund Center. The Dawgs dropped their lone scheduled preseason contest.
Roanoke held a 1-0 lead after two periods but the Marksmen were able to knot things up while working on a power play early in the third. Carl Greco snapped a shot from the left wing that beat Ryan Mulder, evening the score at one.
The Dawgs retook the lead with just over five to play in the frame. Jeff Jones sent a slick backhanded pass to the charging Eric Witzel who chipped it over Jason Pucciarelli to make it 2-1.
Roanoke then won the ensuing faceoff and barreled toward the crease. Zach Tatrn gathered it in tight and flipped a pass to Economos. He roofed a backhander past Puciarelli and the Dawgs lead swelled to 3-1.
Fayetteville responded with a power play goal from Joe Osaka and tied the game in the final minute as Cam MacDonald scored with an extra attacker on.
In overtime, Jake Rosen forced a turnover and charged down the left wing. His snapshot trickled through Mulder and into the net, giving the Marksmen the game-winning goal.
Fayetteville had plenty of early opportunities in the first but could not capitalize. They fired 12 shots on the net of Caffrey, who stopped all of them to keep the game scoreless after 20 minutes.
Roanoke got on the board early in the second. Immediately after a penalty kill, Economos received the puck on the right wing and streaked by the defense. He fired a wrister past Alex Murray to give the Dawgs 1-0 lead.
Creel entered to start the second period and stopped all five shots he faced.
Economos led the Dawgs offense with two goals, Witzel scored and Jones and Tatrn each registered assists. The Rail Yard Dawgs will begin their 2018-19 regular season on Friday in Fayetteville against the Marksmen. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM at the Crown Coliseum. You can watch or listen live on the Haley Toyota Rail Yard Dawgs Hockey Network beginning at 6:45 PM.
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