BILOXI, Miss. � Mississippi had five different goal scorers highlighted by netting three goals in the third period to help the Sea Wolves to a 5-1 triumph over the Louisiana IceGators in front of 4,659 fans at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.
�I thought we played extremely well,� Mississippi coach Bob Woods said. �It�s nice to get timely goals and contributions from several players. We�ll try to officially clinch a playoff berth tomorrow (needing one point) at the Cajundome.�
Mississippi (35-22-6, 76 points) hit stride 9:34 into the hockey game. Louis Dumont carried inside the Louisiana zone and spotted the trailer Austin Miller, who unleashed a wrist shot past goaltender Nathan Marsters for his sixth goal of the season. Anthony Battaglia also garnered an assist.
The Sea Wolves went up 2-0 at 11:02 of the first period. Travis Lisabeth at the side of the net to score his career-high 20th goal of the year, set up by Jay Legault and Mike Martone.
Louisiana (22-36-6, 50 points) sliced the lead in half at 12:18. Wes Mason tipped a left point shot from Paul Lynch through the pads of goalie Randy Petruk to make it 2-1 Mississippi. Mason�s team-leading 29th tally of the season was also assisted by Chris Thompson.
After a scoreless second period, Nick Greenough deposited his fourth goal in five games since rejoining the Sea Wolves in a trade on March 13 at the 1:01 mark by notching his career-high seventh marker of the campaign. Lisabeth and Miller had helpers.
Anthony Battaglia scored his career-high 24th of the year at 10:27 to put the game away. Kerry Ellis-Toddington and Chris Cava had the assists.
A 2-on-1 break, Legault fed Milt Mastad, who buried his fourth goal of the season. Lisabeth registered his third point of the night at the 17:13 mark.
Mississippi failed to convert eight power play chances, while Louisiana went 0-for-3. Sea Wolves outshot the IceGators 44-29.
The Sea Wolves wrap up their home-and-home series with Louisiana by having the puck drop at 7:05 p.m. tomorrow at the Cajundome in Lafayette. Watch the live web telecast for $6, courtesy of B2 Networks, online at msseawolves.com. Listen live on flagship radio station WGCM-AM 1240, or online at msseawolves.com, courtesy of Teamline. The pregame show gets underway 15 minutes before each game.
Mississippi�s next home game is at 7:05 p.m. on Tuesday against the Texas Wildcatters at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.
Individual tickets for Tuesday�s game can be purchased at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum box office, all Ticketmaster locations, by calling (228) 385-2600 and online at ticketmaster.com.
Flex packs, discounted groups tickets, birthday packages and fundraiser opportunities are available by calling (228) 275-WOLF or online at msseawolves.com.
Season ticket packages for 2005-06, the 10th Anniversary Season of the Sea Wolves, are on sale now by calling (228) 275-WOLF. Ask about the �Early Bird Special.�
--- Box Score ---
SCORE BY PERIODS
Louisiana 1 0 0--1
Mississippi 2 0 3--5
FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Mississippi-Miller 6 (Dumont; Battaglia)
9:34. 2, Mississippi-Lisabeth 20 (game winner) (Legault; Martone)
11:02. 3, Louisiana-Mason 29 (Lynch; Thompson) 12:18. Penalties:
Leonard, LA (Fighting, Major), 16:42. Cava, MIS (Fighting, Major),
16:42. MacIver, LA (Fighting, Major), 17:16. Greenough, MIS (Fighting,
Major), 17:16.
SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: Greenough, MIS (Hooking),
3:02. Shepherd, LA (Board check), 6:43. Greenough, MIS (Slashing),
8:58. Galbraith, LA (Holding stick), 10:39. Thompson, LA
(Obstr goalie interfe), 14:06. Cava, MIS (Hooking), 14:42. Barker,
LA (Holding), 15:52. BENCH, LA served by Dustin (Too many men),
17:14.
THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 4, Mississippi-Greenough 4 (Lisabeth; Miller)
1:01. 5, Mississippi-Battaglia 24 (Ellis-Toddington; Cava) 10:27. 6,
Mississippi-Mastad 4 (Legault; Lisabeth) 17:13. Penalties: MacIver,
LA (Roughing, Double minor), 3:31. Greenough, MIS
(Unsportsmanlike Cond), 3:31. MacIver, LA served by Dustin
(Ten minute misc.), 3:31. Cava, MIS (Hooking), 7:11. Turon, LA
(Roughing), 16:27. Cava, MIS (Roughing), 16:27.
SHOTS ON GOAL
Louisiana 11 9 9--29
Mississippi 13 16 15--44
Power Play Conversions: Louisiana - 0 of 3, Mississippi - 0 of 8.
Goalies: Louisiana-Marsters (44 shots, 39 saves; record: 16-27-4).
Mississippi-Petruk (29 shots, 28 saves; record: 4-2-1).
A: 4659. Referee: Britt. Linesmen: Ross; Deliman.
