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Nov. 12, 2002

Austin DeLuis scored the game-winning goal nearing the final minute of play, leading the Fresno Falcons to a 5-4 victory over the struggling San Diego Gulls Tuesday night at the San Diego Sports Arena. The loss pushes the Gulls (5-6-1) under 500, their worst start in club history.

Despite leading most of the game, the Gulls couldn't survive the swooping Falcon attack by De Luis, Kris Porter, Mike Mathers and Drew Schoneck, all who earned three points in the game as well as the stellar play of defenseman Kevin Haupt, who scored two goals.

The Gulls jumped to a quick lead with a goal by team points leader R.J. Enga, a shot that beat Fresno goalie Terry Friesen top shelf. Mark Pederson and Samy Nasreddine assisted on the goal at 1:46 of the first period.

Fresno spoiled the party by answering back a minute later with a power-play goal by forward Mathers, assisted by Schoneck.

Then, with veteran Gull Jamie Black in the penalty box, Gulls winger Dean Tiltgen intercepted a loose puck in the neutral zone and skated to an unassisted short-handed goal between Friesen's pads to put the Gulls up 2-1 at 10:47. Tiltgen then struck again, scoring his second goal of the game at 8:44 of the second period with Sylvain Deschatelets and Trevor Sherban assisting. The point put the Gulls ahead by two but the party was short lived.

Haupt scored the Falcon's second goal at 11:17 of the second period, beating Gulls goaltender Curtis Cruickshank assisted by Porter and DeLuis. This was Cruickshank's first game as a Gull.

The Falcons evened the score at 6:49 of the third period on Haupt's second of the game. Then, Fresno's Mathers scored at 11:12 of the third period, putting the Falcons ahead for the first time in the contest. The power-play goal was assisted by Schoneck and Kayle Short.

The Gulls rebounded back to even the score at 17:00 of the third period when Deschatelets beat Friesen glove-side, with assistance from Clayton Read and Mike Garrow. But the Gull's defense folded by allowing a two-on-zero that resulted in the game winner by DeLuis at 18:49.

Notepad
The Gulls could not score on five power play chances. They are six for their last 67 chances overall. Dennis Mullen sat out tonight's game, serving the second of a two-game suspension for his knee-on-knee hit on Bakersfield's Jason Jackman Nov. 2. Cruickshank and rookie defenseman Michael Lanthier signed with the Gulls today. Gulls defenseman Clint Cabana is officially lost for the season with a separated shoulder. Marc Busenburg and Rob Voltera remain with the American Hockey League's Hershey Bears.

FEATURE ARTICLES
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East meets West in final WCHL season
WCHL’s 2002-2003 makeover starts at the top
WCHL Training Camp Notepad
WCHL honors its own with organizational awards

AROUND THE WCHL
November 2002 Edition
October 2002 Edition
May 2002 Edition

GAME RECAPS
02/07/03: Condors 4, Gulls 3 (SO)
02/05/03: Gulls 2, Falcons 1
02/04/03: Falcons 8, Gulls 3
02/01/03: Steelheads 6, Gulls 5 (SO)
01/31/03: Gulls 3, Steelheads 2 (SO)

PROFILES IN HOCKEY
Enga is Gulls’ new ironman
Danielle Dube — pioneer, no; goaltender, yes
Greg Spenrath: Falcons lose a legend
Grandfather, grandson keep Gulls "all in the family"

PRESS RELEASES
Ice Dogs name Kaminski as head coach