FLORIDA NOT SO SUNNY FOR GREENVILLE 

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BY: Ray Schmitt, Voice of the Greenville Road Warriors

GREENVILLE, SC – The Greenville Road Warriors suffered a 5-2 defeat at the hands of the Florida Everblades on Saturday night at the BI-LO Center. The loss dropped Greenville to 4-5-0 on the season.

Click here for tonight’s box score.

The Road Warriors hadn’t been able to score first against the Everblades in either of the prior two meetings between the clubs this season and tonight’s game followed suit. Chris Murray slapped a shot past Jason Missiaen with Florida on the power play early in the first to put the visitiors up 1-0. Missiaen held Florida at bay the rest of the period, including stopping a penalty shot, and got some help from a pair of fellow rookies at the end of the period to tie the score. In his first game of the season, Jason Wilson hit Max Campbell on the right wing with a drop pass and Campbell rifled a shot behind goalie John Muse with 20 seconds left in the frame.

A pair of quick strike goals by Florida put the Road Warriors in a two-goal hole early in the second. Mathieu Roy scored from close range at 1:49 to restrore Florida’s one-goal lead then Robby Dee potted a rebound 1:29 later to double Florida’s lead. Jeff Prough responded for the Road Warriors at 8:26 with his eighth goal of the season that brought Greenville within one. Justin Bowers appeared to have tied the score about eight minutes later, but a lunging glove save by Muse robbed Bowers of the score.

Greenville could not get itself on the comeback trail in the thrid period thanks to Florida cashing in its second power play goal of the game 48 seconds into the period. Murray launched another shot from the point that squeezed past Missiaen on the glove side. Down a pair, Greenville opened up the offense and out-shot Florida 10-5 in the frame, but Muse was up to task on each shot the Road Warriors sent his way. Ryan Donald added an empty net goal in the waning moments of the game to set the final score.

Missiaen suffered his first loss of the season and made 24 saves for Greenville. The Road Warriors were 0-for-4 on the power play and 4-for-6 on the penalty kill.

Mark your calendars! The Road Warriors are back on home ice to battle the South Carolina Stingrays on Thursday, November 10, 2011 at 7:35 p.m. at the BI-LO Center. The Road Warriors will host a Throwback Thursday which features $2 select draft beers, fountain drinks, hot dogs, and boxes of popcorn. Don’t forget that your group of 10 or more can get discounts off the box office price and preferred seating based on availabillity by booking in advance. Call 864-674-PUCK (7825) to speak to a Road Warriors representative.