Blades top Bears for 4th straight win
ORLANDO – Corey Cowick scored the game winner while Matt Marquardt, Logan Roe and Matt Willows also scored to lead the Florida Everblades to a 4-3 victory over the Orlando Solar Bears Sunday night.
The Solar Bears (10-16) opened the scoring, netting a shorthanded tally just over 3 1/2 minutes into the game. Getting the puck in the Everblades’ zone, T.J. Foster gained control of the puck. Turning away from Logan Roe, Foster found Johnny McInnis alone in the slot where the former ‘Blade buried his shot past Anthony Peters.
Orlando continued to pressure the Everblades, eventually adding to their lead at 14:43 of the first period. Once again getting the puck to the slot, Lindsay Sparks fired a shot that caromed off the post, and into the net off the skate of Peters.
Under two minutes later, it was the Everblades’ turn to score. Getting an odd man rush, Corey Cowick found Matt Willows streaking into the attacking zone. A quick wrist shot from Willows beat Orlando goaltender Rob Madore to cut the Solar Bears lead in half.
Continuing to up the pressure on the Bears, the Everblades (22-9) tied the game late in the second period. Bringing the puck up the ice, Brendan O’Donnell advanced the puck into the attacking zone. Spotting Roe, O’Donnell slid the puck across to the slot where Roe, a Fort Myers native, buried his shot into the back of the net for his first career goal.
Just three minutes after tying the game, the Everblades took the lead at the 17:45 mark of the middle frame. Dancing around the crease, a patient Justin Agosta waited for his moment. Spotting Marquardt at the front door, Agosta shoveled a pass to the captain, who in turn tipped the puck past Rob Madore.
The Everblades were not done. With less than 30 second remaining in the second period, Cowick became the beneficiary of some great team passing by the ‘Blades. Cowick fired a shot into the back of the net to give the Blades’ a 4-2 lead.
However, prior to the end of the period, the Solar Bears got a goal back, netting their third of the night with only 1.8 second remaining in the second period. Simply getting the puck into the Florida zone, Lindsay Sparks used some nifty stick work to beat Peters for his second goal of the night.
Up 4-3 entering the third period, the Blades caught a massive break as an Orlando goal was waved off by referee Zak Blazic for obstruction on Peters. Even with an increased attacking presence, the waved off goal was as close the Bears got to tying the game.
Peters gets the win in net, stopping 27 of the 30 shots he faced. Former ‘Blades goaltender Madore takes the loss for Orlando, allowing four goals on 32 shots.
The Everblades kick off the New Year on New Year’s Day when they return to Germain Arena to face the Solar Bears in the fifth game of the Wawa Sunshine Cup Series.