ATHENS ROCK LOBSTERS at MONROE MOCCASINS

ROCK LOBSTERS EDGE OUT MOCCASINS 3-2 IN HALLOWEEN THRILLER 

by Joseph Furtado

Monroe, LA - The Athens Rock Lobsters pulled out a 3-2 overtime victory over the Monroe Moccasins on Halloween night. Garrett Milan's second of the game came at 2:17 in the overtime period and put an end to a back-and-forth contest that saw both teams exchanging leads and penalties.

After a quiet first period, the Rock Lobsters opened the scoring early in the second, with Milan finding the back of the net to make it 1-0 at 5:31. Monroe responded quickly, taking advantage of a power play with Declan Conway to tie the game at 13:18 in his first game with Monroe. Just seconds later, the Moccasins surged ahead as Helmer Oskarsson scored on a shot from the high slot beating Jack Bostedt blocker side, making it 2-1.

The Rock Lobsters evened things up late in the second period, as Brandon Picard found himself staring at a wide-open net to make it 2-2 at 17:49. Both teams traded chances in a scoreless third period, but neither could break the deadlock.

In overtime, Athens wasted no time as Milan scored his second of the night to secure the win for the Rock Lobsters who are now 3-0 against Monroe this season. Monroe will look to regroup as they host Athens for game two of this weekend series on Saturday.

Milan Magic Makes Moccasins Mad in Monroe

by Matteen Zibanejadradib

Monroe, LA - The Athens Rock Lobsters returned to the Monroe Civic Center on Halloween night and ended a game that was filled with fights, physical battles and ever-changing narratives with an overtime goal from Garrett Milan to secure a 3-2 victory against

Milan, the player-coach who currently leads the FPHL in scoring, took a lead for the visitors in the second period with a redirect on a Carter Shinkaruk shot. 

However, the matchup was turned on its head with two Moccasin goals separated by 20 seconds, giving Monroe a 2-1 lead through Declan Conway and Helmer Oskarsson at the 13:38 mark.

Before the second was over, Hunter Alden forced a turnover and turned defense into offense with a tape-to-tape pass to facilitate a Brandon Picard shot into a wide-open net.

A scoreless third period sent the two teams to overtime and Milan reached into his bag of tricks to put a move on a defender before burying a wrist shot into the top corner past Marcus Ekholm-Rosen.

The Rock Lobsters (6-1-0, 16 pts) return to Monroe Civic Center in Monroe, La. on Saturday night to finish out their series against the Monroe Moccasins.