COLUMBIA, S.C. � Shawn Wansborough scored two goals in the third period to give the Columbia Inferno a 5-2 victory over the Mississippi Sea Wolves in Game 1 of the Southern Conference Finals.
In the battle of the only two remaining unbeaten playoff teams, Columbia improves to 7-0 in the postseason while Mississippi suffers its first setback of the 2003 Kelly Cup Playoffs, falling to 6-1.
�We definitely weren�t clicking on all cylinders,� Sea Wolves coach Bob Woods said. �The nine days off hurt us. Give the Inferno credit, we now know what we�re up against. My goal was to at least win one of the games in Columbia and that�s still possible with Game 2 on Friday.�
Columbia opened the score at 3:49. Matt Ulwelling let go with a shot from the slot and notched his third of the playoffs, beating Greg Gardner to the stick side.
In the second, Mississippi tied it by scoring on the power play. Dave Paradise hammered a slap shot from the left point at 3:50, getting past Patrick Couture. Paradise extended his goal streak to four games, with four goals over that span.
The Inferno regained the lead with a man advantage at 18:38. Rejean Stringer sent the puck in front and it ricocheted by Gardner. Stringer�s second of the playoffs gave Columbia a 2-1 lead through 40 minutes of action.
In the third, Columbia went up 3-1. Shawn Wansborough buried his own rebound in front at 8:40. The Inferno kept pouring on the pressure. Barrie Moore backhanded from behind the Mississippi net to Robin Carruthers, he knocked the puck in at 12:04, giving the Inferno a 4-1 lead.
The Sea Wolves cut the margin in half at 13:37. Jeff Hutchins, who was celebrating his 25th birthday, centered the puck and John Evangelista deposited his first of the playoffs.
Mississippi was looking for a rally. However, Steffon Walby was robbed on back-to-back shifts with heavy wrist shots by the left glove of Couture.
Then with 1:00 remaining, Wansborough finished the scoring by tallying his second of the contest and fourth of the postseason.
In the dying seconds, Sea Wolves' Hutchins sent a wrist shot into the Columbia bench. Hutchins was assessed a match penalty and could face a suspension.
Gardner turned away 30-of-35 shots, dropping to 6-1 in the postseason. Couture stopped 29-of-31 shots, raising his record to 6-0 in the 2003 Kelly Cup Playoffs.
Mississippi went 1-for-5 with the man advantage. Columbia also converted on 1-of-5 power play opportunities.
Game 2 is Friday at 7:05 p.m. ET at the Carolina Coliseum in Columbia. Listen to live play-by-play action on ESPN Radio 1490 WXBD-AM.
The Sea Wolves next home game is Game 3 on Sunday at 5:05 p.m. CT at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi.
Individual playoff tickets for Mississippi are available at all Ticketmaster locations, the Mississippi Coast Coliseum box office and by calling 228-594-3707.
2003-04 season tickets start at $21 per month. Call the Sea Wolves hockey office and ask about payment plans at (228) 275-WOLF.
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