DULUTH, GA - The Atlanta Gladiators opened their 2019-2020 campaign on a sour note Friday night at Infinite Energy Arena in a 5-3 loss to the South Carolina Stingrays. The visitors tallied the first two goals from Casey Bailey and Cole Ully. Atlanta rebounded to snag their first goal of the season with 10.1 seconds left in the opening frame when Dante Hannoun found Joona Koppanen in the slot.
The Glads built more momentum in the second period defensively, shutting down the South Carolina power play on all three of its' chances. Captain Derek Nesbitt found Jack Stander at the blue line for a powerful one-timer than rebound to last season's goal leader, Nick Bligh. The Boston, MA native buried the chance to tie the game at two.
Andrew Cherniwchan and Dylan Steman sucked the energy out of the 4,959 in attendance with third period goals that regained a lead the visitors would not relinquish. Despite a tally from Scott Conway late in the third, Atlanta could not rebound. The Gladiators take the ice against Saturday evening against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits at 7:05 PM. Secure your tickets here or tune in to the Gladiators Radio Network on Mixlr.
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