GREENVILLE, SC. - The Atlanta Gladiators (16-8-2-0) scored twice to tie the game, but fell short the third time, falling to the Greenville Swamp Rabbits (13-7-6-0) by a score of 3-2 Friday evening at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.
First Star: Alex Ierullo (GVL) - 2 goals, 1 assist
Second Star: Tanner Eberle (GVL) - 1 goal, 2 assists
Third Star: Nikita Pavlychev (SAV) - 2 assists
Greenville struck early in the game to grab a 1-0 lead courtesy of Tanner Eberle (18:45).
Atlanta drew even before the midway point of the first period to tie things up 1-1 (11:19). Mike Pelech took a feed from Eric Neiley in tight and beat Swamp Rabbits goaltender David Hrenak for his fifth of the season.
Greenville restored their lead with just over seven minutes remaining in the second period making it 2-1 (7:06).
The Gladiators tied things early in the third period to make the score 2-2 (14:53). Derek Topatigh fired an absolute laser beam of a shot from the point on the power play for his fourth goal of the year.
The Swamp Rabbits took a 3-2 lead late in the game off a goal from Alex Ierullo (6:44).Â
David Hrenak turned aside 31 of 33 shots in the win for Greenville, David Tendeck stopped 24 shots for the Gladiators in the loss.