Glads Tame Monarchs 3-2

Playing their second game in as many days, the Gladiators continued the solid, all-around effort seen in Monday’s game in Greenville with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over the visiting Manchester Monarchs on Tuesday night. The Gladiators opened up the scoring with a Tyler Murovich goal that came at the 12:28 mark of the first period. Zach Sarig fired a shot from the left point that ricocheted off the stick of Murovich and into the net. Justin Buzzeo was credited with the secondary assist on the play. Atlanta would double the score just over a minute later. Monarchs goaltender, Michael Houser, misplayed the puck behind the net giving Derrick Nesbitt an opportunity to pass to a waiting Eric Neiley, who shot it through Housers legs. The goal was the Warminster, PA natives third goal of the season and gave Nesbitt his seventh assist of the year.The Monarchs cut the lead in half as Austin Block was able to blast a rebound into the net. Matt Mackenzie took a shot from the right circle that careened off the pad of Gladiators goaltender, Andy Iles. The puck fortuitously landed right in front of Block who easily notched the first goal of the campaign for the Monarchs to make the score 2-1 at the 14:33 mark of the second period. The Gladiators executed a flawless breakaway rush to increase their lead to 3-1 at the 15:31 mark of the third period. Daniel Bahntge completed a through-pass to the Buzzeo who blasted the puck past Housers glove side on the breakaway for his second tally of the year. Max Everson, who started the play, was credited with the secondary assist.Atlanta would see their two-goal lead cut down to one just ten seconds later. Troy Power found Tony Turgeon off the face-off at center who then skated into the zone and whipped a drive past Iles glove. The goal was the Grand Forks, ND natives first goal of the season and marked Powers first assist of the year.The Gladiators held off the fierce Monarchs attack down the stretch to end the game and hold on for a 3-2 win. Atlanta improved to 9-6-1 with the victory and leaped frogged Manchester in the standings as they increased their point total to 19. Manchester dropped to 9-7-0 with the loss and remain at 18 points. Photo Credit: Lindsay Hartmann