Gladiators fall 4-3 in Texas on Saturday

BEAUMONT, TX - Jamie Milam gave the Gladiators a 3-2 lead early in the second period but Gwinnett could not hold on in a 4-3 loss to the Texas Wildcatters on Saturday night at the Ford Arena in Beaumont, Texas.

With the loss, the Gladiators fall to 11-5-1 on the season. The Gladiators and Wildcatters finish off a three game series at the Ford Arena on Sunday afternoon at 5:05 p.m.

For the second consecutive night against the Wildcatters, Gwinnett jumped out to a 1-0 lead on Texas. Derek Nesbitt beat Texas netminder Anton Khudobin on a backhand shot from the right wing circle just 1:38 into the first period to give Gwinnett the early lead. Jeff Campbell posted an assist on the goal for the Gladiators moving the puck thorugh the neutral zone before dishing to Nesbitt to set up the tally. Scott Lehman also had an assist on the goal for Gwinnett.

Texas tied the game at 2:26 of the first period as Marc Fulton walked down the right wing wall untouched after taking an outlet pass and beat Gladiators netmidner Dan Turple to the stick side for the marker. Jordie Preston and Jonathan Paiement collected the assists on the goal for Texas.

Ross Carlson was able to find the puck sitting just outside of the Gladiators crease and jam it past Turple to give the Wildcatters a 2-1 lead. Mike Grenzy and Fulton hooked up to pick up the assists on the goal for Texas at the 5:45 mark of the first period.

Gwinnett posted two goals early in the second period to take a 3-2 lead on the Wildcatters. Campbell finished an odd-man rush with Nesbitt beating Khudobin to the far post to tie the game at two. The marker cam just 1:48 into the second period. Bryson Busniuk also had an assist on the goal for Gwinnett.

Jamie Milam's sixth goal of the season just 4:24 into the second period gave the Gladiators a 3-2 lead. Trailing the play, Milam found a loose puck in the slot and ripped a snap-shot past Khudobin for the marker. Lou Dickenson and Mike Hamilton posted the assists on the goal for Gwinnett.

Gwinnett spent about nine consecutive minutes on the penalty kill during the middle of the second period and officially kept the Wildcatters off the board on the man advantage. Texas was able to tie the game up at three just seconds after a 5-minute major to Myles Stoesz expired. John McNabb was able to dance through the slot and slide the puck around and past Turple for the marker. Paiement and Preston hooked up for the assist on the marker for Texas to leave the game tied at three after a pair of periods.

Fulton notched his second goal of the game which proved to be the game winner for the Wildcatters at the 12:29 mark of the third period. In a pile up in front of the Gwinnett net, Fulton found the puck and rolled it past Turple for the marker. Paiement collected his third assist of the game on the goal while Scott Champagne also had an assist on game winner for the Wildcatters.

Gwinnett went 1-for-4 on the power play while the Wildcatters finished scoreless on the man advantage in the contest. Turple finished with 29 saves in the loss for the Gladaitors.