JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Greenville Swamp Rabbits sliced Jacksonville's leads to one on two occasions, including late in regulation, but could not eventually break through. A backbreaking goal by leading scorer Alexis D'Aoust put the Icemen up 4-2, and at that score for good on Friday night at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena.
D'Aoust's three-point night stoked the way for the homestanding Icemen, whose unbeaten streak to begin the season extended to four games. He picked up an assist on Jacksonville's first two goals, tallies from Everett Clark and Wacey Rabbit, and added a goal of his own late in regulation time.
Austen Brassard had just cut Jacksonville's 3-1 lead to 3-2 with a wraparound tally following a shot from the right circle by Johno May that pinballed out in front of the Jacksonville goal. Brassard wrapped the net and stashed the goal home for his third of the season. However, just seconds later, D'Aoust scored his goal to seal it.
The Swamp Rabbits saw two plays turn the course of the game. One was having a potential goal from Dylan Vander Esch on the power play waved off after a puck that was smacked down with a high stick, and the second, right at the start of a power play, having a puck taken the rest of the way down off a steal by Dajon Mingo find its way into the net for a shorthanded goal.
May eventually got the response at the beginning of the second period in revenge of the call against the Swamp Rabbits to cut the Jacksonville lead to 2-1.
The Swamp Rabbits' busy weekend continues with two more games starting on Saturday, October 27 against the Atlanta Gladiators at 7:00, and on Sunday, October 28 against Jacksonville at 3:00. Tickets are available at SwampRabbits.com.
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