For Immediate Release:
February 15, 2020
OVERTIME SINKS DAWGS, 4-3
Marcus Ortiz strikes twice in OT loss
KNOXVILLE, Tn. – Marcus Ortiz scored twice, the second of which tied the game at three and forced overtime, but the Knoxville Ice Bears scored in the extra session to beat the Rail Yard Dawgs, 4-3, Saturday night at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum.
With the Rail Yard Dawgs trailing, 3-2, and just under seven minutes to play in the third period, Austin Daae carried the puck to the slot. He steered a backhander on net that was stopped by Joe Murdaca but Ortiz muscled his way in for the rebound and flipped it into the net, tying the game at three.
In overtime, the Dawgs were whistled for a penalty with only 70 seconds remaining and were forced to a four-on-three penalty kill. The Ice Bears worked the puck around the perimeter until eventually Jason Price whipped a pass to Josh Pietrantonio in front of the net that he tapped in for the game-winning goal.
Roanoke started the scoring in the first period on its first power play of the game. Ortiz fielded a pass in the slot then skated his way to the right circle where he snapped a wrist shot through Murdaca’s legs for his first of the game and his first goal as a Rail Yard Dawg.
Knoxville tied the game in the opening minute of the second when Stefan Brucato got an edge on the defense and carried the puck to the net. He deked and flipped a shot over Henry Dill to make it 1-1. Eight minutes later a stretch pass found Scott Cuthrell for a breakaway that he buried to give Knoxville a 2-1 lead.
The Rail Yard Dawgs evened the score at the halfway point of the second after Josh Nenadal forced a turnover and gained the zone. He fired a shot that Murdaca blocked but Daae got to the rebound first and knocked it in to tie the game at two.
Knoxville took the lead back late in the second on an Anthony McVeigh goal.
The Rail Yard Dawgs moved to 12-20-6 with the overtime loss and Knoxville improved to 24-15-4. Roanoke will now finish out its weekend on the road in Huntsville for a Sunday date with the Havoc. Puck drop at the Von Braun Center is scheduled for 6:00 PM.
###