GRAND RAPIDS, MI – The San Antonio Rampage (1-0-1-0) grabbed their first win of the season against the Grand Rapids Griffins (0-3-0-0) 3-2 in front of 10,834 at Van Andel Arena on Friday night. Andrew Agozzino finished with a team-high two goals to earn the Third Star of the Game, and Zach Redmond notched the game-winning goal late in the third period to secure the win for San Antonio and earn the First Star of the Game.
The game opened up with an early goal in the first period by Agozzino off a feed from Ben Street at the 2:08 mark. Agozzino found a gap in the back of Grand Rapids’ zone and buried the puck in the back of the net. Just two minutes later, Ryan Sproul scored a power-play goal to tie the game at one.
The Griffins got off to a fast start in the second period, scoring their second goal of the night on another power play. At one point in the middle frame, Grand Rapids had outshot San Antonio 21-7, but the momentum began to shift towards the Silver and Black. Two late infractions by Grand Rapids’ Louis-Marc Aubry and Xavier Ouellet gave the Rampage a 5-on-3 advantage going into the third period. San Antonio capitalized, as quick puck movement from Ben Street and Max Noreau allowed Agozzino to tip the puck into the net just 50 seconds into the frame.
Redmond buried the game-winning goal for the Rampage at the 14:51 mark of regulation. The tally was Redmond’s first of the season, and it came at a crucial time during San Antonio’s seventh power play of the evening.
The Rampage held on for a 3-2 win, as the Griffins comeback attempt was thwarted by goaltender Calvin Pickard, who finished with 39 saves on 41 shots, including a diving save late in the game to hold onto the lead. The Griffins finished with a 41-29 edge in shots.
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