Solar Bears season ends with 2-1 loss to Cyclones

ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando, FL - The Solar Bears scored 1:30 into the contest but could not hold off the Cyclones as they fell to Cincinnati by a 2-1 score on Tuesday night at the Amway Center.

F Wade MacLeod scored the lone goal 1:30 into the opening frame. After G Christopher Gibson turned aside a chance right in front of the net, F Taylor Matson and F Mickey Lang combined to move the puck to MacLeod, who blasted a slap shot from the left circle and past G Rob Madore to put the Solar Bears ahead 1-0. Gibson turned aside all 16 shots he faced in the first to keep the Solar Bears ahead 1-0 going into the second frame.

An early goal in the middle period allowed the Cyclones to tie the game. F Dan Eves collected a loose puck in the attacking zone and snapped the puck from the high slot that caught a piece of Gibson but trickled over the line at 1:13 to bring the score to 1-1. It stood as the only goal of the second stanza and the two sides entered the second intermission in a tie game.

Late in the third period, the Cyclones knocked home the game winning goal. F Wade Megan recovered the puck in the left circle and found just enough room inside the left post to give Cincinnati a 2-1 lead with 5:22 to play. The Solar Bears made a late push with the netminder pulled and outshot the Cyclones 16-7 in the final frame, but could not find the equalizer as they fell by the 2-1 final score.

Three Stars: 1. W. Megan (CIN); 2. R. Madore (CIN); 3. C. Gibson (ORL)
Power Plays: ORL: 0/2; CIN: 0/2
Shots: ORL: 40; CIN: 38

Notes:
The Cyclones won the series 4 games to 2... G Christopher Gibson stopped 77 of the 81 shots he faced in the series... F Wade MacLeod scored his team leading third goal of the playoffs tonight.

WFTV