For Immediate Release:
December 29, 2018
DAWGS HANG ON, BEAT MAYHEM, 3-2
Jacob Caffrey makes 24 saves in Roanoke win
ROANOKE, Va. – Jacob Caffrey made 24 saves, Travis Armstrong scored the eventual game-winner and the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs held on to beat the Macon Mayhem, 3-2, Saturday night at Berglund Center.
The Dawgs started fast in the opening period. Steve Mele gained the zone off a rush and skated the puck between the circles. He fired a snap shot that sailed past the Mayhem defense and over Ian Sylves’ shoulder to make it 1-0.
Roanoke struck again just over two minutes later while working shorthanded. Zach Nieminen carried it over the blue line and fired a wrister just one stride into the zone. It went top shelf and snapped the net behind Sylves, extending the lead to 2-0.
That would be it for Sylves, who was pulled after allowed two goals on five shots in just six minutes of game action.
Macon got on the board with a power play marker in the final minute of the first. Caleb Cameron set up Jake Trask for a back-door one-timer and Roanoke’s lead was cut in half.
The Dawgs pushed the advantage back to two late in the second period with a power play goal of their own. Armstrong took a wrist shot from the point that navigated traffic and lit the lamp to make it 3-1.
The Mayhem brought themselves back within one in the third as Nick Minerva carried the puck below the net and fed Derek Sutliffe for a one-timer, pushing the score to 3-2.
Macon maintained pressure throughout the period and outshot the Dawgs, 13-1, in the final frame. But Caffrey and the Roanoke defense stood tall and held on to cement the 3-2 win.
Caffrey stopped 24 of the 26 shots he faced, Sean Federow had two assists and Armstrong netted his first goal of the season for Roanoke. Henry Dill made 10 saves on 11 shots in relief for the Mayhem.
The Rail Yard Dawgs snapped a brief two-game skid and improved to 12-11-0 win the win. Macon fell for the third consecutive game and moved to 17-5-3. Roanoke will return to action on New Year’s Eve against the Knoxville Ice Bears. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:05 PM. There is a Wisler Plumbing Family Four Pack available through Sunday that features four tickets for $20. It can be purchased by calling (540) 206-2926 on Sunday from 10-5.
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