Coming into their first home game in two weeks, the Sharks knew they would have to slip a little sugar into the Ignition fuel tank if they were to stop such a high caliber team. Thus Orlando began the contest with a sweet fourteen minutes of playoff caliber defense, not surrendering a goal until a minute remained in the first when Detroit defenseman Jonathan Greenfeil lifted a shot into the corner of Orlando’s net. After one quarter of play the Ignition led the Sharks, 2-0.
Four minutes into the second, Detroit midfielder Vahid Assadpour snuck a slow roller past Sharks goal tender Antonio Iriate to put the Ignition ahead by four. The Sharks would get through the rest of the quarter unscathed, even successfully snuffing out a Detroit power play, however they were unable to get on the board before the half was over. Though Orlando would end the 2nd with an exciting round robin of shots on goal, the score would remain 4-0 Detroit at mid game.
Detroit wasted little time in adding to the Sharks deficit as they began the second half, tacking on two points on a goal by midfielder Ryan Mack assisted by another midfielder, Kyt Selaidopoulos. Five minutes later, the Ignition would surpass their first half total on a three point rocket launched off the foot of Selaidopoulos, giving Detroit nine points on the board. The Sharks were finally able to answer with a minute remaining on a power play goal by forward Felipe Lawall, a bonus for Lawall as this was his first game in weeks due to an injury. After three, the score read Ignition 9, Sharks 2.
Detroit raised their lead to nine points on a goal by forward Leo Gibson assisted by defenseman Droo Callahan after five minutes of play in the fourth. Just two minutes later Orlando answered on a lightening ground shot by forward Jorge Valle which traveled along the baseline to cut the lead back down to seven. Going tit for tat, the Ignition motored home another goal a minute later when midfielder Ze Roberto bobbled the ball weakly past a downed Antonio Iriarte. Orlando would wind up with a half dozen points after forward Chris Cerroni contributed two points with just over a minute remaining. The game would end, Detroit 13, Orlando 6.
Just their second year in the league, Detroit has made a strong statement with their aggressive style of play, however the expansion Sharks have nothing to be ashamed of as they fought hard for every point scored. Though they weren’t the victors in this match up, they will have another chance to get a “W” this Sunday, March 9th when they confront the Wave in Milwaukee.
