Blades sweep Bears
ORLANDO – Florida goaltender Anthony Peters made 41 saves to backstop the Everblades to a 3-1 victory and weekend sweep over the Orlando Solar Bears Sunday hight.
The Everblades take a four 4-0 lead in the in-state season series battle against Orlando for the “Wawa Sunshine Cup.”
Florida opened the score at 5:16 of the first period as defenseman Mark Nemec’s points hot was tipped in by forward Brant Harris. Defenseman Logan Roe, a Fort Myers native and second-ever Southwest Florida native to play for the Everblades, also collected his first professional point by collecting an assist on goal.
Midway through the first, Everblades’ Mike Cornell unleashed a shot from just inside the blue line that beat Orlando goaltender Ryan Massa for his first of the campaign. Veteran Jon DiSalvatore had the helper.
Florida added to its lead in the second period. Mike Aviani netted his team-leading 6th goal of the season and second in as many nights making it 3-0 for the Everblades. Rob Florentino picked up the lone assist.
Solar Bears solved Florida’s Peters on their 25th shot of the game. Rookie Jack Rodewald deposited a rebound shot at 17:02 of the middle stanza to cut the margin to 3-1.
Orlando peppered 11 more shots in the third period, but Peters made several fantastic saves to preserve the victory.
The Everblades wrap up their five-game road trip against the Atlanta Gladiators on Tuesday before returning home to face Idaho Friday and Saturday at Germain Arena.