Williams Earns First Pro Win with 49 Saves in 5-3 Victory

Atlanta made the trip down south to Florida for a battle with division rival Orlando at the Amway Center. The Gladiators were in search of two points in their first of nine meetings with the Solar Bears and first game vs. a division rival this season.

Eric Neiley continued his hot streak as he got the visitors on the board first with his fourth goal of the season. Justin Buzzeo moved into the lead in scoring on the Gladiators as he collected his seventh point of the season with the lone assist. The Windsor, ON native led a 2-on-1 rush and found Neiley in the right wing circle who sent the puck into the top-shelf of the net. With scoring the game's first goal, Atlanta now has scored the opening tally in six of their eight games this season.

Gladiators forward Thomas Frazee put Atlanta up by two with a power play goal 2:49 into the second period. Former Solar Bear, Blake Kessel, took a shot from the right wing that was batted into the net out of mid-air by Frazee giving him his fourth goal of the season. Josh Atkinson increased his league lead in points by a rookie defenseman with his sixth assist and point on the year.

Orlando cut the Glads lead in half when Joe Perry earned his first goal of the season. Ben Danford took a shot from the point that missed the net and the puck ricocheted back out front where Perry beat Atlanta goalie Jay Williams on a shot. Tony Cameranesi also received credit for an assist on the goal.

The Gladiators went back up by a pair when Frazee moved into the team lead in goals with his second of the night and fifth of the year. Kessel went coast-to-coast, weaving in and out of the Orlando defense and eventually set up the North Vancouver, BC native for a one-time goal. Atkinson registered the secondary helper and his second point of the evening.

Orlando added again to the high-scoring middle period when Perry got his second of the night with 45 seconds left in the frame. Brett Findlay took a shot from right on top of the crease that was stopped by Williams. Perry knocked in the rebound to put the Solar Bears back to within one on the power play goal.

While on another power play once again, Orlando tied the game 4:30 into the final period. Cason Hohmann, EricFaille and Ethan Werek teamed up for a tic-tac-toe goal. Werek finished off the play for his first of the season and third point of the year.

Tyler Murovich, who notched his 200th career pro point the night prior, scored his fifth marker of the season late in the third with just over four minutes left which pulled him into a tie for the team lead in goals. Trevor Mingoia out worked the Solar Bear defense and sent a cross-crease saucer pass to the Glads' Alternate Captain who deposited the puck into the goal past Orlando goalie, Kasimir Kaskisuo.

Atlanta would get an empty net tally from the Captain Derek Nesbitt sealing the 5-3 win for the visitors. Behind 49 saves and first career win from Williams in his pro debut, Atlanta improved to 3-3-1-1 with eight points on the season. Orlando in a losing effort fell to 1-2 and remained at 2 points.