Falcons End 2002 with a Victory
Friesen Makes Season-high 40 Saves

The Fresno Falcons gave-up a season high 42 shots on goal but rode the back of goaltender Terry Friesen and a late game-winning power play goal by Tyler Prosofsky to a 3-2 defeat of the Long Beach Ice Dogs on Saturday in front of 6,842 at Selland Arena.

Kirk DeWaele wristed home his second goal of the year to open the scoring at 10:49 of the first period. Just 13 seconds after Fresno had a goal disallowed because the puck was played with a high-stick, Jamie O’Leary streaked up his off-wing and beat Friesen with a wrist shot to tie the game at one at 11:42 of the first. Long Beach would strike again less than two minutes later when Michal Pinc slipped in a rebound, and the Ice Dogs led heading to the second, 2-1.

The Falcons set out on a very brief power play of eight seconds early in the second period but needed only six seconds of the man advantage to tie the game. Scott Borders spearheaded a four-on-two rush, walked down the slot and scored his second goal in as many nights, tying the game at two 1:58 into the frame.

The teams remained tied heading into the third when Long Beach began to build a decisive advantage in shots on goal. Friesen stopped all 17 shots he faced in the third, which set the stage for a Falcons power play with three and a half minutes to play. Prosofsky centered a puck from the corner that bounced off the skate of a Long Beach player and between the legs of Mike Buzak for the game-winner at 17:41.

The victory lifts Fresno above .500 for the first time since Nov. 19 and gives them a record of 12-11-3 as they hit the New Year. The two points allowed them to leap frog the Ice Dogs into fourth place in the standings.

The Falcons open 2003 with their longest road trip to date, a trek that takes them to Idaho, Anchorage, Bakersfield and Long Beach beginning next Friday and Saturday in Boise. They will not return home until Sunday, Jan. 12, when they battle the Aces.


Final
1 2 3 T
Long Beach 2 0 0 2
Fresno 1 1 1 3

Shots On Goal
1 2 3 T
Long Beach 13 12 17 42
Fresno 10 10 4 24

Period 1
Scoring: 1, LB, Pinc 1 (Kelleher, O'Connor), 13:28
Penalties: Both, Fre (Slashing), 5:34 Borders, Fre (Tripping), 13:36 Prosofsky, Fre (Tripping), 18:04 Murphy, Fre (Highsticking), 19:52 Pinc, LB (x-checking), 20:00

Period 2
Scoring: 4, Fre, Borders (Schoneck, Porter), 1:58 (pp)
Penalties: Kelleher, LB (Roughing), 9:04

Period 3
Scoring: 5, Fre, Prosofsky (Porter, Gulutzan), 18:41 (pp)
Penalties: Both, Fre (Fighting), 8:56 O'Conner, LB (Fighting), 8:56 Schoneck, Fre (Holding), 12:52

Power Play Results
Fresno - 2 for 6, Long Beach 0 for 5.



Saves - Long Beach Goaltenders
Goaltender - Minutes 1 2 3 T
Mike Buzak 9 9 3 21
B.J. Boxma 0 0 0 0



Saves - Fresno Goaltenders
Goaltender - Minutes 1 2 3 T
Terry Friesen 11 12 17 40
Mark Gowan 0 0 0 0


Three Stars
1st Star: Prosofsky
2nd Star: Porter
3rd Star: Gulutzan


Officials
Referee- Max Battimo; Linesmen- Dominick Valentine, Steve Glines