Late goal foils rally for Solar Bears in 5-3 loss to Gladiators

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Solar Bears (1-2-0-0) received two goals from Joe Perry, but the Atlanta Gladiators (3-3-1-1) broke a late third period tie as Orlando fell by a 5-3 score on Friday night at the ARS.com Rink at Amway Center.

Click here for the box score.

Atlanta took the initial lead midway through the opening period during a 3-on-1 when Justin Buzzeo fed Eric Neiley who beat Kasimir Kaskisuo at 9:55.

Thomas Frazee added to the Gladiators lead with a power-play goal in the second period when he batted in a point shot from Blake Kessel into the net at 2:49.

Orlando answered when Joe Perry threw a short-side shot from the right of the goalmouth past Jay Williams at 5:57.

Frazee netted his second power-play goal of the contest at 8:17 to extend Atlanta’s lead to two goals once again.

Late in the frame the Solar Bears responded again with a power-play goal as Adam Brace and Brett Findlay worked the puck towards the front of the net, where Perry once again fired a shot past Williams at 19:14 to bring Orlando back to within a goal of the visitors.

Ethan Werek tied the score at 3-3 when Cason Hohmann flipped the puck from the left circle across the zone to Eric Faille, who in turn moved it to the left of Williams, allowing Werek to tap home the power-play goal at 4:30.

The Gladiators took the lead again late in the period when Tyler Murovich knocked a feed from Trevor Mingoia past the blocker of Kaskisuo at 15:23, and Derek Nesbitt sealed the game with an empty-net goal at 18:57.

Kaskisuo took the loss with 29 stops on 33 shots against; Williams secured the win with 49 saves on 52 shots against.

Three Stars:

3) Jay Williams – ATL2) Joe Perry – ORL1) Thomas Frazee – ATL

Orlando next faces the Atlanta Gladiators at home on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. as part of Zombies on Ice, presented by NYZ Orlando. The night will include specialty zombie jerseys worn by your Solar Bears players, matching coozie giveaway to the first 3,000 fans in attendance and spine-tingling in-game entertainment. Single-game tickets are now on sale at the Amway Center box office and ticketmaster.com. Full and half-season ticket plans are now available by visiting OrlandoSolarBearsHockey.com.

The Orlando Solar Bears are the proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs and AHL's Toronto Marlies, and play all of their home games at the ARS.com Rink at Amway Center, the 2012 Street and Smith's Sports Business Journal Sports Facility of the Year.

Follow the Solar Bears at www.OrlandoSolarBearsHockey.com, Facebook, and Twitter (@OrlandoHockey) for all the latest news and updates. Stay in touch with Shades on Instagram by following SolarBearsHockey.

Season tickets, Corporate Flex vouchers, and Group tickets are a great way to entertain employees, co-workers, clients, friends and family. For more information on all of the Solar Bears ticket packages, call (407) 951-8200 or visit orlandosolarbearshockey.com/groups.

Officially licensed Orlando Solar Bears replica team jerseys, apparel, and headwear can be purchased online at store.orlandosolarbearshockey.com/.