VERSUS 
GREENVILLE, SC –The Greenville Road Warriors got off to a fast start but couldn’t sustain the momentum and fell to Florida 5-1 at the BI-LO Center on Wednesday night. The loss dropped Greenville’s record to 18-6-2.
Brandon Wong gave the Road Warriors a great start in the first period. Before the game was two minutes old the rookie out of Quinnipiac banged home his seventh goal of the season for a 1-0 Road Warriors lead. The goal, at 1:48, was set up by Brendan Connolly and Paul McIlveen. Greenville couldn’t muster any offense for the remainder of the period but Florida responded with a set of goals to grab the lead before the intermission. Mitch Fadden scored his first two in the period at 3:06 to draw the game even and after Alex Imbeault gave Florida its first lead at 2-1 with an even strength score at 13:43 Fadden cashed in a breakaway with exactly five minutes left in the frame.
Greenville sent 12 shots Bobby Goepfert’s way in the second period but could not find a way to squeeze a shot past the Everblades’ goaltender. Florida, however, snuck two shots past Dov Grumet-Morris to snag a four-goal advantage by the end of the frame. Francis Lemieux pounced on a loose puck for a power play goal at 18:34 and was followed by an even strength goal 20 seconds later by Mathieu Roy.
The onus fell on Greenville to try to fight back from its largest deficit of the season on home ice, but despite 10 third period shots the Road Warriors were unable to beat Goepfert in the final frame. Florida did well to help its goaltender by keeping many of Greenville’s shots from out on the perimeter. The Road Warriors did receive a late power play opportunity when David Fischer was whistled for tripping at 17:03, but Florida’s second-rated penalty kill snuffed out the opportunity.
Grumet-Morris turned aside 21 shots in taking the loss. Greenville went 0-for-4 on the power play and 4-for-5 on the penalty kill.
Mark your calendars! The Road Warriors return to home ice to take on the Gwinnett Gladiators at 7:05 p.m. on Friday, December 17. It will be the Road Warriors first-ever Teddy Bear Toss, and Greenville native Edwin McCain will be singing the “Star Spangled Banner.” Fans are asked to bring a new, or gently used, unwrapped stuffed animal to the game and throw it onto the ice after the Road Warriors score their first goal. All tossed toys will be donated to WSSL-FM‘s Toys For Tots drive. For more information call the Road Warriors at 864-674-PUCK.
