Game 1: San Diego Gulls @ Tuscon Roadrunners – Oct 6th

Steve Olesky (7) and Kevin Boyle (33) of the Gulls atttempt to shut down a Road Runners opportunity. Credit San Diego Gulls.

Beginning the season as they ended it, the Gulls faced down their demons and headed out on the road to play the team that eliminated them from reaching the post-season despite holding a playoff berth up until the remaining 3 games of last year.

Missing Shaw and Gazdic due to visa issues the Gulls were forced to ice a line-up that featured 11 forwards and 7 defensemen. Interestingly Sideroff was not in the line-up either.

The Gulls jumped out to an early lead

Then poured it on further on Chase De Leos first as a Gull to make it 2-0.

After Tucson got one back the Gulls were quick to answer when Jack Kopacka regained the two goal deficit with his first pro goal.

Tuscon came back again to make it 3-2, but Sam Carrick got his 2nd of the night to make it 4-2 with under four minutes left in the middle frame.

Then Tuscon scored four unanswered goals in the final period, and that was all she wrote as the game fell away from the undermanned Gulls.

Positives to take away from the game were the fact that they got 4 goals in the first place given the lack of depth currently present – as well as the play from those making their pro debuts.

John Broadbent