JACKSONVILLE, FLA – Everett Clark scored a goal and added an assist to the lead the Jacksonville Icemen to a 2-1 victory over the Greenville Swamp Rabbits at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena on Saturday, March 9th.
The Icemen wasted little time in seizing the game’s first goal, taking a 1-0 lead just 2:27 into the opening frame. The Swamp Rabbits mishandled the puck behind their own net and Jacksonville’s Everett Clark took advantage. Clark collected the puck in the goaltender’s box and finished off a wraparound opportunity when he stuffed the puck inside the post and just past the outstretched leg of goaltender Kyle Hayton. The goal would stand as the lone marker in the first, as Jacksonville took the 1-0 lead into the break,
The Icemen assumed a 2-0 lead on a great individual effort by David Broll. With both teams skating 4-on-4, Broll utilized the extra space on the ice to his advantage when he skated the puck out of his own end and into the Greenville zone on the right wing. Broll cut to the low circle and lifted a backhand short that clipped behind Hayden and into the top far corner of the net for the tally.
The two teams combined for just 22 shots through the first 40 minutes of play and remained on top 2-0 at the second intermission.
Jacksonville continued to hold of the Swamp Rabbits attack for a majority of the third, but Greenville kept their hopes alive on a goal with 54 second remaining. The Swamp Rabbits pulled their goaltender to allow for the extra attacker. Michael Pelech scooped up the puck along the end wall and spun a pass through the top of the crease to just below the left wing circle. Zach Franko caught the pass and worsted the puck into the net to pull Greenville within one.
However, the comeback bid came too late, as the Icemen closed out the game for the 2-1 win. Ken Appleby earned the win making 23 saves, while Hayton took the loss allowing two goals on just 15 shots faced.
Text courtesy of Jacksonville Icemen
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