COLUMBIA, S.C. � In a rematch of last season�s Southern Conference Finals, the Mississippi Sea Wolves picked up a measure of revenge and two points by defeating the Columbia Inferno, 5-2, in front of 2,977 at the Carolina Coliseum.
�We got some redemption tonight,� Sea Wolves coach Bob Woods said. �It�s a big win. We haven�t had any success here in the past. It�s a tough building to play in and I�m happy with the effort. The 10-hour bus trip will seem a little more enjoyable.�
Louis Dumont opened the score for the second straight game for Mississippi. Dumont�s shot from the slot at 9:39, dribbled through Josh Blackburn, gave the Sea Wolves veteran his third goal in three games.
The Sea Wolves (3-2-2) added to their lead in the second. Steffon Walby fed the puck to Jeff Hutchins, who deposited his sixth goal of the season and extended his point streak to five games, counting five goals and four assists over that span.
Columbia (3-2-1) sliced Mississippi�s lead in half, on the power play at 6:05. Derek Eastman sent a right point shot through traffic and past Greg Gardner. It was Eastman�s second of the campaign.
At 14:59, the Sea Wolves regained their two-goal lead. On an odd-man rush, John Evangelista, playing his 200th game for Mississippi, sent a pass over to Walby, who netted his fifth tally of the season.
Mississippi caught a break in the third. Blackburn raced to the right circle trying to clear a loose puck, but Dwayne Blais cut off his clearing attempt and sent the puck into the empty net for his first of the year.
The Sea Wolves put the game out of reach at 13:58, Sergei Kuznetsov passed to Blais, who converted on a 2-on-1 break, for his second of the contest.
Columbia picked up a late power-play goal by Tim Smith at 17:30, as he wired in a slap shot from the slot.
Mississippi failed to score on five power play chances, while Columbia tallied on 2-of-7 opportunities with the man advantage. Inferno outshot the Sea Wolves, 27-25.
The final game of Mississippi�s three-game road swing is on Saturday at Pensacola. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. The game marks the first game back at Pensacola for Sea Wolves� Louis Dumont and Kerry Ellis-Toddington. Listen live on WTNI-AM 1640 and across the internet, through the Sea Wolves web site at msseawolves.com.
The Sea Wolves return home at 7:35 p.m. on Friday, November 7 against the Louisiana IceGators. Promotions include 2-for-1 military, courtesy of Kessler Federal Credit Union and the first 2,000 fans will receive Thundersticks.
Individual game tickets, start at $9 for children and $11 for adults. Tickets are available at all TicketMaster locations, the Mississippi Coast Coliseum box office and by calling 228-594-3707.
Season seat packages, flex plans and discounted group tickets are still on sale by calling 228-275-WOLF.
--- Box Score ---
DATE - 10/30/03 Mississippi (5) at Columbia (2)
SCORE BY PERIODS
Mississippi 1 2 2--5
Columbia 0 1 1--2
FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Mississippi-Dumont 3 (unassisted) 9:39. Penalties: Dumont, MIS (Holding stick), 1:16. Burrows, CBA (Unsportsmanlike Cond), 5:15. Hutchins, MIS (Elbowing), 9:49. Blais, MIS (Hooking), 15:08. Labelle, CBA (Cross checking), 17:27. Blais, MIS (Holding), 19:18.
SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Mississippi-Hutchins 6 (Walby) 3:03. 3, Columbia-Eastman 2 (power play) (Smith; Pittman) 6:05. 4, Mississippi-Walby 5 (game winner) (Evangelista; Lisabeth) 14:59. Penalties: BENCH, MIS served by Cava (Too many men), 5:20. Amadio, CBA (Elbowing), 6:49. Amadio, CBA (Slashing), 10:11. Amadio, CBA (Holding stick), 12:38. Gauvreau, MIS (Hooking), 17:28. Burrows, CBA (Roughing), 18:48.
THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 5, Mississippi-Blais 1 (unassisted) 11:25. 6, Mississippi-Blais 2 (Kuznetsov; Baxter) 13:58. 7, Columbia-Smith 2 (power play) (Eastman; Harrison) 17:30. Penalties: Rochon, MIS (Tripping), 7:35. Maxwell, MIS (Tripping), 15:34.
SHOTS ON GOAL
Mississippi 12 8 5--25
Columbia 7 8 12--27
Power Play Conversions: Mississippi - 0-of-5, Columbia - 2-of-7.
Goalies: Mississippi-Gardner (27 shots, 25 saves; record: 2-1-1). Columbia-Blackburn (25 shots, 20 saves; record: 1-1-0).
A: 2977. Referee: J. Koharski. Linesmen: Boylan; Wicklum.
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