NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C – In a performance that showcased the South Carolina Stingrays‘ resilience, Micah Miller secured a spectacular 3-2 overtime victory over the Reading Royals with his second game-winning goal of the season. Also scoring for the Rays was Erik Middendorf and Charlie Combs. Seth Eisele’s masterful control of the crease saw 24 saves in front of a 5,075 crowd at North Charleston Coliseum.
The Stingrays wasted no time as Jordan Klimek launched a beautiful breakout pass to Kyler Kupka, who glided into the zone and passed to Middendorf across the ice. Middendorf then buried his 15th goal of the season past Reading’s Vinnie Purpura for the early 1-0 lead. Klimek and Kupka picked up the assists.
At 14:36, Combs scored his 13th goal, assisted by Alexander Suzdalev and Klimek. After receiving Suzdalev’s drop pass, Combs weaved past two defenders and beat Purpura, extending the Stingrays’ lead to 2-0.
Early in the second, Sam Sedley‘s faceoff shot got past Eisele, cutting Reading’s deficit to 2-1. At 6:21 in the second, Matt Miller tipped in a shot off a faceoff play to tie it 2-2. A scoreless third period with Reading’s 5-3 shot advantage sent South Carolina to overtime for the third straight game.
One minute into overtime, Miller scored the winner on a backhand after taking a drop pass from Austin Magera. Miller deked past a Reading defender for his sixth game-winning goal this season, with assists from Magera and Connor Moore.
Check out this photo gallery from Inside The Rink’s Julie Taylor for highlights from the game.
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