MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 17, 2003
Contact: Brian Clark
bclark@fresnofalcons.com

FALCONS HANG ON
Offensive Defensemen Lead the Way in 4-3 Win

FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno Falcons, behind goals from four different
defensemen, nearly let a 4-1 lead slip away but held on to defeat the San
Diego Gulls, 4-3, on Monday afternoon at Selland Arena in front of a crowd
of 4,250.

Falcons defenseman Kirk DeWaele opened the scoring on the game's first shot
on goal at 1:28 of the first period. He was followed by Cory Murphy, who
extended his league lead in goals by a defenseman with his 12th of the
season at 11:31 of the first to give Fresno a 2-0 lead. San Diego's Dean
Tiltgen cut Fresno's lead in half at 15:11, but Jason McBain responded about
two minutes later with his third of the year.

The Falcons added to their 3-1 lead entering the second period when Drew
Schoneck tallied his sixth of the season at 5:29 of the middle frame.
Fresno seemed to have the game in cruise control as they headed to the third
with their 4-1 lead intact.

Cruise control quickly turned to damage control when Tiltgen scored his
second of the day and Kevin Grant added his fifth of the season 50 seconds
apart mid-way through the third. San Diego managed to pull goaltender Cris
Classen for nearly a minute in search of the equalizer but the Falcons held
on for the 4-3 victory.

Fresno's victory gives them a record of 27-17-5 and 57 points, four points
behind the third-place Bakersfield Condors. They complete a three-game home
stand this Friday when the Gulls return to Selland. The 7:30 p.m. start
features the Hanson Brothers from the movie Slapshot. Tickets are still
available at the Selland box office, all Ticketmaster outlets and online at
www.ticketmaster.com.

1st Period Summary: 1, FRE, DeWaele 6 (Short, Kenady), 1:28. 2, FRE,
Murphy 12 (Embley, Weaver), 11:31. 3, SD, Tiltgen 21 (Pederson, Read),
15:11. 4, FRE, McBain 3 (Weaver, Borders), 17:15.

2nd Period Summary: 5, FRE, Schoneck 6 (Borders, Embley), 5:29.

3rd Period Summary: 6, SD, Tiltgen 22 (Pederson, Sherban), 7:59. 7, SD,
Grant 5 (Cyrenne, Deschatelets), 8:49.

Scoring by Period: 1 2 3 F
San Diego 1 0 2 3
Fresno 3 1 0 4

Shots on Goal: 1 2 3 T
San Diego 7 8 11 26
Fresno 8 10 13 31

Saves: San Diego - Classen (27-31)
Fresno - Friesen (23-26)

Power Play Results: San Diego - 0 for 3
Fresno - 0 for 3