Admirals Fall In OT For Second Straight Night

NORFOLK, VA - The Atlanta Gladiators (6-6-1-1) spoiled the Norfolk Admirals (1-7-3-0) late comeback push to win 4-3 in overtime The Gladiators would get on the board first at the 16:13 mark of the opening frame off Trevor Mingoia's fifth goal of the season. Baker's shot from the point was blocked down, but Buzzeo found the right-handed shot streaking towards the net, who buried it past a down-and-out Eetu Laurikainen. Mingoia wasn't done yet though, as he struck again exactly 30 seconds later after his first of the night, with Miles Koules setting him up. A clean pass from a cycle in the Admirals zone extended Atlanta's lead to 2-0. Blake Kessel had a hand in the play by originally setting up Koules prior to the tally. The Gladiators would continue to roll into the second, extending their lead to 3-0. Justin Buzzeo earned his fifth of the season and first of the night with helpers from Brock Higgs and Blake Kessel. 26 seconds after the third Atlanta goal the Admirals would fight back. Norfolk forward Nick MacNeil fired the puck on net, and Atlanta's netminder Matt Ginn was unable to control it, leading to Adam Phillips burying the rebound for his first of the season. Following Phillips first of the year, John Dunbar earned his first in the same category before the period concluded. Josh Brittain set up the small and speedy forward, who was able to take on an Atlanta defender and release one backhand into the twine, bringing the Admirals within one. The Admirals late second period push carried on into the final frame, with defenseman Sam Noreau getting his first of the season to tie the game up. Jeff DiNallo helped set the stage by connecting on a pass to defenseman Gabriel Verpaelst, who then quickly fed the puck across to Noreau, where the big blueliner fired a slapshot from the point and just like that the score was 3-3. After 60 minutes of regulation play the game went into overtime, where Justin Buzzeo scored his second of the night and ended Norfolk's comeback by netting the overtime winner. Drew Baker and Brock Higgs earned helpers on the strike, making a happy bus ride to Reading for the Gladiators. The Admirals will be back in action this Wednesday as they take on the visiting Idaho Steelheads at 7:15 PM for the first of a three game set. Tickets for Wednesday night's game are on sale now and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com as well as at the Norfolk Scope box office. For more information on the team, be sure to follow and like the team on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat at (NorfolkAdmirals). Box Score