ROAD WARRIORS COME UP SHORT 

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EVERBLADES PICK UP WILD 6-5 WIN OVER GREENVILLE

The Florida Everblades picked up a 6-5 victory over the Greenville Road Warriors on Friday night at Germain Arena in the first pre-season action of the 2010-11 season.

A wild third period saw the two teams combine for five goals after entering the frame tied at three. Trevor Hendrikx started the third period scoring barrage for the Everblades with a shot off a face off at 7:44 of the frame to give Florida the 4-3 edge.

Greenville’s Matt Schepke answered with his second goal of the night at 11:05 on a long slap shot from the blue line that beat Everblades goalie Brian Markowicz on the stick side, evening the score at four. Less than a minute and a half later Alex Imbeault gave the Everblades back the lead with a quick wrist shot from the right circle that beat Road Warriors net minder Dov Grumit-Morris over the glove at 12:26.

Leading by a goal the Everblades saw Greenville battle back once more to tie the game just 30 seconds later when Sean Berkstresser’s wrist shot from the top of the right circle ticked off the tip of Markowicz’s glove and dropped into the net.

Once again however the Everblades persevered and Vladimir Nikiforov netted the eventual game winner at 15:21 on a nice effort after taking a pass from Francis Lemieux. Nikiforov was able to lift a shot past Grumit-Morris from his knees at the left side of the net.

Prior to the wild third period, the Everblades took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission after tallying a pair of quick goals by Mike McKenzie and Mitch Fadden late in the frame. Those goals came in response to a quick start by Greenville who scored just 1:21 into the game on a breakaway goal by Paul MacDougall.

In the second period, the Road Warriors picked up two quick goals midway through the frame by Steve Ward on a 5-on-3 power play and Schepke just over a minute and a half apart, but Bobby Raymond’s goal with 44 seconds left in the middle stanza evened the score at three.

Raymond’s tally which came off one of two assists by McKenzie, was a quick one-time snap shot from the left circle that sailed past Grumit-Morris.

In goal Markowicz picked up the win stopping 29 of 34 shots, while Grumit-Morris took the loss allowing the six goals on 31 shots.

On the power play, the Everblades finished the night 1-of-8, while Greenville closed out the game 2-of-8.

2010-11 Florida Everblades season ticket packages are available now! For just $66 you can get your piece of the action for next season! The Everblades begin the 2010-11 season on Friday, October 15 when they host the Gwinnett Gladiators at 7:30 p.m. from Germain Arena. Visit www.floridaeverblades.com and www.germainarena.com for more information on ticket packages, pricing and upcoming Germain Arena events.

The Everblades return to action on tomorrow night when they host the Greenville Road Warriors at 7:00 from Germain Arena in their second and final pre-season action.

3 Stars:

1 – Mike McKenzie – FLA

2 – Vladimir Nikiforov – FLA

3 – Bobby Raymond – FLA