Garreffa scores twice for Solar Bears in 5-2 win over Everblades

ESTERO, Fla. – Joseph Garreffa scored twice, including the eventual game-winner in the second period, to lift the Orlando Solar Bears (2-1-0-0) to a 5-2 victory and a split of their two-game preseason series with the Florida Everblades (1-1-0-0) on Saturday night at Hertz Arena.

Dylan Fitze broke a 0-0 tie in the second period when he jammed a rebound past Tomas Vomacka, then assisted on the go-ahead goal by Fabrizio Ricci 20 seconds after the Everblades tied the score.

Kyle Topping and Jake McGrew picked up a pair of assists, while Chad Duchesne capped the scoring with a shorthanded empty-net goal late in regulation.

BOX SCORE

1st PeriodSHOTS: ORL 12, FLA 9

2nd PeriodORL Goal: Dylan Fitze (1) at 1:38. Assisted by Jake McGrew and Kyle Topping.FLA Goal: Blake Winiecki (2) at 12:17. Assisted by John McCarron.ORL Goal: Fabrizio Ricci (1) at 12:37. Assisted by Dylan Fitze and Steenn Pasichnuk.ORL Goal: Joseph Garreffa (2) at 14:24. Assisted by Kyle Topping and Jake McGrew.SHOTS: ORL 7, FLA 6

3rd PeriodORL Goal: Joseph Garreffa [PP] (3) at 1:36.FLA Goal: John McCarron [PP] (1) at 5:28. Assisted by Austin McIlmurray and Blake Winiecki.ORL Goal: Chad Duchesne [SH-EN] (1) at 17:46. Assisted by Tristin Langan.SHOTS: ORL 7, FLA 11

GoaltendingORL: Zachary Émond, 24-for-26FLA: Tomas Vomacka, 21-for-25

NOTABLES:

• Garreffa (4g-1a) and Topping (2g-3a) finished the preseason with the scoring lead for the Solar Bears.
• The Solar Bears went 1-for-3 with the man advantage tonight.
• Garreffa led the Solar Bears with five shots on goal.  

NEXT GAME: The Solar Bears open their 10th season of ECHL competition when they host the Atlanta Gladiators for Opening Night on Saturday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. at the AdventHealth Rink at Amway Center.