RAYS FOUR-GOAL FIRST DOOMS KC, MAVS DROP ROADIE OPENER 4-2

North Charleston, SC – The Kansas City Mavericks were defeated by the South Carolina Stingrays, 4-2 Tuesday night at North Charleston Coliseum. The game was the first of an eight-game road trip that will span seven cities over the course of 13 days. Mavericks goaltender Mason McDonald set a season high for saves on the evening, stopping 40 of 44 shots by the Stingrays. Greg Betzold extended his points streak to six games with an assist on the evening. The Mavericks maintained their position as the fourth and final playoff team in the ECHL’s Mountain Division, currently holding a seven-point lead over the fifth-place Rapid City Rush with 10 games to play and two games at hand.

Rocco Carzo opened the scoring just 20 seconds into regulation, putting the Mavericks up 1-0 early. Darian Dziurzynski and Greg Betzold assisted on the opening salvo. The Stingrays tied the game with 7:42 remaining in the opening period on a goal from Steve Johnson. Joey Leach and Tim Harrison assisted on the goal. South Carolina grabbed the lead on a goal from Jordan Samuels-Thomas. Leach and Harrison picked up their second assists of the game on the goal. Miles Liberati extended the lead to 3-1 on an unassisted goal with 2:11 left in the first. Andrew Cherniwchan made it 4-1 with two seconds remaining in the opening period. The two teams combined for 35 shots in the period, with the Stingrays outshooting Kansas City, 20-15.

Despite the combined five goals in the first period, neither team was able to score in the second period. The Stingrays outshot the Mavericks 11-9 in the period.

Joey Sides drew the Mavericks closer late in the game, making the score 4-2 on a deflection in front of the net with 4:09 left in regulation. Riley Sweeney and Nate Widman assisted on the goal. The goal would be the final tally in the game, as the Mavericks fell 4-2 on the opening game of their road trip.

ECHL Mountain Division Standings1. x-Idaho (37-22-3-2. 79 points)2. x-Tulsa (36-21-4-2, 78 points)3. Utah (33-21-4-4, 74 points)4. Kansas City (32-25-3-2, 69 points)5. Rapid City (27-29-5-3, 62 points)6. Wichita (24-29-7-3, 58 points)7. Allen (23-37-4-2, 52 points)*x-clinched playoff spot

The Mavericks continue their East Coast road trip Thursday night as they face the Greenville Swamp Rabbits before returning to North Charleston for another matchup against the Stingrays Friday night. Faceoff for that game will be 6:05 p.m. Central Time. For more information, please visit kcmavericks.com.

Media Inquiries: Brian McGannon | bmcgannon@kcmavericks.com | 816-285-8031