PEDERSON'S HAT TRICK SINKS FALCONS
Despite Loss, Fresno Captures Playoff Berth

SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Gulls' Mark Pederson notched a hat trick to help
lead his club to a 4-1 victory against the Fresno Falcons on Saturday at the
San Diego Sports Arena.

The Gulls struck twice in the first period, and on both occasions it was
Pederson, their leading goal scorer, that found the back of the net. The
former NHL'er picked up his 36th of the year at 5:40 of the first before
dumping in a rebound at 11:33 to give San Diego a 2-0 lead after one.

The Gulls added to their lead in the second period. Off a clean face-off
win in the Falcons' zone Dan Cousineau had a slapshot blocked by Fresno
goaltender Terry Friesen, and Sandro Sbrocca cleaned up the rebound at 5:45
to give San Diego a 3-0 lead heading to the third.

Fresno's Colin Embley spoiled the shutout bid of San Diego goaltender Trevor
Koenig 2:10 into the final period with a power play goal from Cory Murphy,
but the club was able to pull no closer than 3-1. Pederson completed his
second hat trick of the year against the Falcons with an empty-net goal with
1:30 to play for the final 4-1 margin.

The fourth-place Falcons fell to 30-23-7 with 67 points, but despite the
loss clinched the league's final playoff spot after the Long Beach Ice Dogs
were eliminated from playoff contention by losing to the Anchorage Aces,
5-1, later in the evening.

The Falcons' franchise record 11-game road trip finally comes to an end
tomorrow afternoon in Bakersfield against the Condors at Centennial Garden.
All of the play-by-play action can be heard live on 103.1 FM, The Mountain
Cat, beginning at 4:50 p.m. with the Mail Boxes, Etc. Pre-game Show. Fresno
will then open up a five-game home stand on Friday, March 14, at 7:30 p.m.
when the Condors make a visit to Selland Arena.

1st Period Summary: 1, SD, Pederson 36 (Deschatelets), 5:40. 2, SD,
Pederson 37 (Deschatelets, Sherban), 11:33.

2nd Period Summary: 3, SD, Sbrocca 6 (Cousineau, Neale), 5:45.

3rd Period Summary: 4, FRE, Embley 23 (Murphy), 2:10 (pp). 5, SD, Pederson
38 (Purdie, Grant), 18:30 (en).

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

Shots on Goal: 1 2 3 T
Fresno 5 14 13 32
San Diego 7 17 4 28

Saves: Fresno - Friesen (24-27)
San Diego - Koenig (31-32)

Power Play Results: Fresno - 1 for 5, San Diego - 0 for 4