(Strongsville, Ohio)… Despite staging a late third-period comeback, the Rochester Americans fell 2-1 tonight to the Lake Erie Monsters at Hoover Arena in southern Cleveland. The game was the first of three for Rochester for the 2009 preseason.
Brock Bradford broke a 1-1 tie and netted the game-winner with just four seconds left in regulation to give the Monsters the 2-1 win. Kevin Schaeffer tallied Lake Erie’s first goal earlier in the first period. Lake Erie goaltender and Rochester native Billy Sauer logged a 25-save performance.
Ryan Mior and Chris Beckford-Tseu combined for a 27-save effort and second-year forward Andrew Sweetland scored Rochester’s lone goal of the contest.
The Amerks nearly jumped out to an early 1-0 lead early in the first period as Lee Jubinville one-timed a nifty pass from defenseman Matt Duffy, but Sauer was quick to make the save.
Lake Erie got on the board first as Schaeffer beat Mior high glove-side to give the hometown Monsters a 1-0 lead at 5:01 of the opening frame. Ryan Stoa received the lone assist on the play.
After a scoreless second stanza, Rochester even the scored at 1-1 in the closing minutes of the third period as Sweetland converted a three-man cross-ice pass from Luke Beaverson and Stephane Goulet at 2:07.
The lead was very shortlived, however, as Bradford deposited the game-winner over Beckford-Tseu’s right shoulder with just four ticks left on the clock to lift the Monsters to a 2-1 victory.
Rochester continues its 2009 preseason on Sunday, September 27th against the Syracuse Crunch at 6:00 p.m. At the ESL Sports Centre, fans can get players’ autographs, and meet the Amerks Moose and the American Spirit promotional team. Fans can stop by the Amerks Guest Services Booth to pick up information on individual and season tickets, and the team’s Kids Club. Season ticket holders can also purchase full season parking packages or a 10-pack of parking vouchers for the 2009-10 season at the MAPCO table.
Tickets for the September 27th preseason game are now on sale at the ESL Sports Centre. General admission ticket pricing is $7.00 for adults and free for kids wearing a team hockey jersey. The Rochester Americans also have a limited quantity of tickets available for purchase at the Amerks Office in The Blue Cross Arena.
Rochester concludes its preseason schedule with a 7:00 p.m. road game versus Syracuse at the War Memorial at Oncenter on Tuesday, September 29th.
