Abilene survives miscues, wins shootout, 5-4

SAN ANGELO - After another lapse in the final minutes of the third period, the Abilene Aviators watched a two-goal lead disappear Friday night before downing San Angelo in a shootout, 5-4.

Leading 4-2 with less than seven minutes left on the clock, a mental mistake by the Abilene defense left San Angelo's Dave Lylyk all alone in front of the net, cutting the Aviators' lead in half.

When Scott Chartier sent a shot past newly signed Aviator Dom DeGiorgio on a delayed penalty less than three minutes later, the two teams were knotted at four apiece.

Neither team could manage a goal in the final minutes, and the Aviators went to their third shootout in four games.

After the first four shooters for both Abilene and San Angelo were denied, Abilene's Francois Archambault put a forehand-backhand shot past Outlaw goalie Kevin Kreutzer for the 1-0 lead.

After San Angelo's final shooter went top shelf on DeGiorgio, the two teams continued into sudden death, where after two shooters both lit the lamp, Finland native Markus Kolomainen enticed Kreutzer to commit too soon, and tapped in the easy score.

Just one day after being signed as backup goaltender for Abilene, DeGiorgio came up huge with a glove save on Craig Conley's ensuing shot to give the Aviators the win.

San Angelo opened the scoring in the first period when Kevin McKinnon sent the puck to a waiting Rob Sandrock, who fired his shot past DeGiorgio for the early 1-0 lead.

The Aviators caught fire in the middle frame, as it surged to a 3-1 lead over the Outlaws with goals from Mario Therrien,Francois Archambault and J.F. Gregoire.

The Outlaws' only goal of the second period came when Dion Wandler stole the puck and sent it between DeGiorgio and the right post, making the score 3-2 going in to the final period.

Abilene's fourth score was a power play goal midway through the third period, when Francois Archambault went five-hole on Kreutzer, off an assist from Mike Varhaug.

Aviators gain center

The Aviators, continuing to look for a winning combination of players, acquired 6-2, 190 pound center C.J. Yoder from Monroe Friday for future considerations.