Photos via @Sarah_Hobday
In front of a solid crowd at the North Charleston Coliseum, the South Carolina Stingrays gave their fans an effort to cheer for. Alas, Joe Houk scored to end the game in overtime, 4-3, allowing the Greenville Swamp Rabbits to go home with a win over their intra-state rivals.
The Stingrays will next host the Wichita Thunder on Tuesday night before a three-game road trip through the Sunshine State. After one game against the Orlando Solar Bears, the Rays renew their rivalry with the Florida Everblades for two games.
Brandon Alderson scored for the visiting Swamp Rabbits, but his goal was cancelled out by Daniel New. New was signed to a Standard Player Contract hours before puck drop to replace the recently recalled Joey Leach. New spent four years at Providence College before joining the Springfield Falcons for two games in 2011-12. The defenseman out of White Plains, N.Y last saw ECHL action with the Everblades.
Though the Stingrays sent the Swamp Rabbits to the man-advantage four times, they not only killed all four minors, but scored twice while shorthanded. John Parker scored his first professional goal late in the first to give the Stingrays a lead into the first intermission, then captain Joe Devin did the same thing at the outset of the second.
Late period goals from Angelo Miceli and Allan McPherson tied the game and sent the contest to the extra frame.
Marcus Perrier dropped the gloves for the first time this season, fighting Justin DaSilva at 14:17 of the second period. Perrier hit DaSilva along the boards, which prompted a quick stab at Perrier with his stick. The men stared down briefly, then threw their hand equipment aside to brawl.
Both combatants leveled a few right hands, uppercuts for Perrier and overhands for DaSilva, with DaSilva’s helmet coming loose toward the end. Both stopped punching and let go of each other after 27 seconds.
After Devin had a good try at the net ping off the post, the Swamp Rabbits came back the other way to finish the game.
Greenville outshot South Carolina, 37-24 on the night. Neither side scored on their power play chances, four for Greenville and one for South Carolina. Brandon Halverson stopped 21 shots for the win, Parker Milner stopped 33 for the loss.
