MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Nick Strait
nstrait@fresnofalcons.com
November 1, 2002
CONDORS HAND FALCONS FIRST HOME
LOSS
Fresno Drops a Nail Biter 4-3 to Valley Rival
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno Falcons
had their four-game winning streak
snapped at the hands of the Bakersfield Condors, 4-3, in front
of 5,933 fans
at Selland Arena on Friday night. The Condors are still the only
team to
have beaten the Falcons in regulation in this young season, having
done it
twice. Three different Falcons scored goals in the losing effort.
Drew Schoneck got things started
on a positive note for the Falcons as his
first goal of the season just 2:56 into the hockey game gave his
team the
early 1-0 lead. Paul Willett answered for the Condors less than
four minutes
later with the first of three power play goals for Bakersfield.
The Condors
continued to thrive on the power play in the second period when
Jeff Goldie
tacked up a pair of goals to put the Condors out in front 3-1.
It took the Falcons nearly five
minutes to respond, but with Bakersfield's
Shawn Byram in the penalty box serving a match penalty for high
sticking,
Fresno exploded for two power play goals by Mike Mathers and Kayle
Short in
the span of minute to tie the game up a three apiece heading into
the third
period.
In the third period, with the
score knotted at 3-3, the teams skated to over
15 minutes of scoreless hockey. Denis Ladouceur managed to break
the
deadlock with his goal at 15:38 to put the Condors back out in
front with
the eventual game winner. The Falcons tried feverishly to net
the equalizer
but were unable to generate any good scoring chances down the
stretch.
Special teams were the deciding
factor in the game as the two teams combined
for five power play goals on 14 chances. Fresno converted on two
of their
six chances while Bakersfield found the net three times in eight
opportunities. The Falcons were outshot by the Condors 31-19,
including a
22-8 margin at one point midway through the second period. Terry
Friesen
made 27 saves in net for the Falcons while his counterpart Kevin
St. Pierre
made 16.
Fresno failed to gain any ground
on the front running Idaho Steelheads in
the West Coast Hockey League standings as they actually lost ground
to the
San Diego, who defeated the Steelheads earlier in the evening.
The Falcons
are now 4-2-0 with eight points, one point behind the Gulls for
second
place.
The team will look to get back
on the winning track when the Steelheads
return to Fresno tomorrow night for a 7:30 p.m. face off. The
first 1,500
fans through the Selland Arena doors will receive free mini hockey
stick
compliments of the Institute of Technology. The Falcons will also
auction
off the special edition Halloween jerseys worn during their match
up with
the Gulls last Tuesday night following the conclusion of their
game with the
Steelheads. The live auction will take place at the El Torito
Restaurant on
Tulare and R Streets in downtown Fresno. Tickets for Saturday's
game are on
sale now at the Selland Arena box office, all Ticketmaster locations,
or
on-line at www.ticketmaster.com.