Glads Fall to Rays 3-1

In Charleston to take on the Stingrays for the second night in a row, the Gladiators fell to South Carolina by a final score of 3-1. The Stingrays struck first, with Nick Jones finding the back of net 14:33 into the opening period. The third-year defenseman sent a one-timer slap shot from the center point past the blocker of Atlanta goalie Kent Patterson to put the home team up 1-0 on their first powerplay opportunity of the night. The tally was his sixth goal of the year, while Kelly Zajac picked up his eighth assist, and Joe Devin notched his 19th with the secondary helper.Just 63 seconds after Jones' tally, Stephan Vigier doubled the home team's lead to make it 2-0. The product of Northern Michigan University added to his team lead by beating Patterson top shelf for his 21st goal of the year. David Pacan was credited with his team-leading 36th assist on the play, while Bobby Shea tallied his 19th on the secondary assist.Following a scoreless middle frame, Tyler Murovich put the visiting Gladiators on the board 1:17 into the third period. The play started with Justin Buzzeo getting the puck at the left point and sending it to a wide open Brock Higgs at the back door. The product of R.P.I. then faked a shot which caused the defense to budge, and then sent a pass across the crease to Murovich who tapped it into the open net. The goal marked the Gladiators alternate captain's 17th of the year, as well as the 20th and 14th assists for Higgs and Buzzeo, respectively.South Carolina sealed the victory with an empty-net goal to make it 3-1 with less than ten seconds remaining in the game. Patrick Gaul sent the puck down the ice and into the open frame for his fifth goal of the season.With their third-period comeback falling short, Atlanta drops to 29-25-5-2 on the year, placing them in ninth place in the Eastern Conference. South Carolina continued their hot streak with the win on home ice and improved to 36-18-5-2 giving them 79 points, and keeping them in third place in the Eastern Conference.