Glastonbury, CT November 8, 2005. ZRink - Killingworth Guppies Spring 2005 season.

November 8, 2005-They have done it all season and Tuesday night they did it again. The Fish would take another early lead and then slowly give it back to their opponent. Not only that, The Guppies came into the game with a slight chance to make the playoffs but after forty minutes of play there was no chance. So many close games, so many missed opportunities, so many loses this has truly been a tough season for the fans in Guppies Nation! Players have had the same level of disappointment "We belong in the league!" stated Gupps forward Jason Zito "I does us no good to drop a level and win games by 5 or 6 goals a night. We just haven't taken advantage of our opportunities".  Tuesday night was much of the same:

Marc Crayton (1-0-1) would give the Fish the one goal lead when he scored his first goal of the season less than a minute into the game. The Guppies controlled the play all night out shooting ESPN 44 to 21. However, ESPN made the most of the 21 shots, as Cory Coffin tied the game at one on ESPN's second shot of the game. The Guppies would take back the lead when Dave Armenia (1-0-1) buried the garbage in front of ESPN's net. Later in the half the Guppies looked to take the 3-1 lead but the Referee waved off the goal. A call that proved to be costly to the Guppies "Things like happen, he missed the call but we still need to get more than 5 goals on 44 shots!" stated Guppies Captain Brian Kelly in a post game interview.  As it worked out ESPN would tie the game at two before Rob Murphy (1-3-4) found Kelly (2-1-3) for the Guppies third goal of the game.  At the half the Guppies had the 3-2 lead and were controlling the play.

In the Second ESPN would score three unanswered goals to take the 5-3 lead. Late in the half Murphy would score to make it a 5-4 game. Cory Coffin would beat Joe Linskey shooting from his knees to regain the two goal lead. With under two minutes remaining Kelly scored to pull the Guppies within one. However, the Guppies couldn't get the equalizer as they missed several great scoring opportunities in the final minute. ESPN would score the empty net goal with a second remaining, ESPN wins 7-5!

The Guppies finish their season next Tuesday night when they face off against the Stingers, game time 10pm.

 

SIDE NOTES:

- Scratches: John Stevenson, John Carroll, Mike Halle

- Tuesday's loss officially knocked the Guppies out of the Playoff hunt. It's the first time in the Guppies Ten year history that the Team will not make the playoffs.

- The Guppies tied a record for the most losses by a Guppies team in the Regular season at 6. The Guppies lost 6 games in 1995 (5-6-1) and 2001 (3-6-1). If they loss next week they will set a new record of 7! Also, a Guppies loss will tie the Team with Record for the Fewest Wins in a season- 3.

BOX SCORES:

First Half:

19:16 - Goal - Crayton (Zito, Murphy)

12:58 - Goal - Armenia (Millen, Kelly)

  8:51 - Penalty - Armenia (rough)

  5:12 - Goal - Kelly (Murphy)

Second Half:

18:37 - Penalty - Howley (highstick)

  3:09 - Goal - Murphy

  1:43 - Goal - Kelly (Murphy, Howley)

Shots on Goal:

Guppies: 44