WOODLANDS BACKSTOPS THE FALCONS TO WIN OVER THE HAWKS

Premier League - Round 10 Game 1

Falcons 6 - Blackhawks 4

Three goals from Canadian Cole MacMillan and a solid goaltending performance from Seb Woodlands carried the Adelaide Falcons to a 6 - 4 win over the Adelaide Blackhawks in Premier League action last Wednesday at Thebarton.

MacMillan fired goals in each of the three periods and Woodlands stopped 42 of 46 shots including an 18 shot barrage in the opening period as the Falcons improved their season mark to 4 - 4 - 1 - 0 for 14 points and second place on the four team ladder. The Blackhawks drop to 4 - 6 and back down to third place on the ladder.

Henry Keene, Quenton Tombleson, and Czech forward Ales Kratoska completed the scoring for The Falcons, who have now won their last four consecutive Premier League games.

Former A.I.H.L and National Team star Josh Harding led the Hawks with two goals, with Tyson Boyd, and Casey Babineau picking up singles in the loss.

Sixteen year old Woodlands has continued to be one of the shining lights in the rejuvenated Falcons squad, with his recent 42 saves moving him into the saves percentage lead with a 86.32 per cent mark.

“I have lots of confidence in the guys in front of me and they are really good to me so I want to do the best i can and give the team the best chance to win”, said the young goalie after the win.

“I've really enjoyed playing in the Premier League this year, it’s a good standard, and playing at this level each week keeps me on my toes, and has been a great development for me.

The Falcons have had a major turnaround in the last month since acquiring import Canadian Cameron Critchlow, and Czech stars Josef Rezek and Ales Kratoska, however Woodland’s isn’t pulling any punches or setting any bars at this point in the schedule.

“All the teams are very even, so at this point I think all four teams are still contenders” he said.

GAME SUMMARY

1st PERIOD

SCORING - Blackhawks - 12:25 - Tyson Boyd (C. Babineau): Blackhawks - 11:28 - Josh Harding (M. Lothian): Falcons - 5:11- Cole MacMillan (A. Kratoska)

PENALTIES - Blackhawks - 8:37 - Tyson Boyd (Hooking)

2nd PERIOD

SCORING - Falcons - 11:17 - Henry Keene (J. Chester, R. Melis): Falcons -10:28 - Cole MacMillan (J. James): Blackhawks - 9:03 - Josh Harding (M. Williams): Falcons - 7:07 - Quenton Tombleson (H.Keene, J.Chester)

PENALTIES - Blackhawks -13:02 - Casey Babineau (Cross Checking): Falcons - 2:36 - Josef Rezek (Tripping)

3rd PERIOD

SCORING - Falcons - 11:21 - Ales Kratoska (C. MacMillan): Blackhawks - 9:29 - Casey Babineau (unassisted): Falcons - 0:39 -Cole MacMillan (J. Geyer)

PENALTIES - Falcons - 2:54 - Jarrad Chester (Roughing): Falcons - 2:54 - Jarrad Chester (Roughing): Falcons - 2:11- Ales Kratoska (Holding)

SHOTS ON GOAL 1st 2nd 3rd Total

Falcons 8 11 10 29

Blackhawks 18 13 15 46

GOALKEEPERS - Falcons - Seb Woodlands: Blackhawks - Glen Forbes-White

GAME OFFICIALS - Referees - P. Cunningham: Linesmen - Matt Gaspari & Mark Sunczyk

Scorer - Nicola Reese: Time Keeper - Claire Wise