The red-hot Youngstown Phantoms built a three goal lead in the first period, but let it slip away over the next two periods.  The Phantoms even trailed 4-3 in the waning moments but were able to score and force overtime.  In the end, unfortunately, Alex Guptill would score the lone goal of a shootout and Waterloo would sneak out victorious.

The Phantoms got on the board first when Ryan Belonger beat CJ Motte (above) to score his 15th goal of the season and put Youngstown ahead 1-0 with nine minutes and thirty seconds gone in the opening period.  New guy on the block, Danny Mattson, continued to be a points machine for Curtis Carr as he gathered an assist.

Just over two minutes later, Cody Strang (below) connected from short range to notch his 14th goal on the year.  Strang’s even strength goal yielded an assist to Chris Bradley and came with a man advantage.

With 4:01 left in the opening period, Youngstown scored on another powerplay chance to go up 3-0 when Adam Berkle got in on the act and pegged his 17th goal of the season.  Jiri Sekac was given an assist in a period where the Phantoms outshot the Blackhawks 19-8.

In the second period, Waterloo found the scoreboard when Alex Guptill beat Jordan Tibbett 3:34 into the second period.  Gupptil’s goal was of the powerplay variety and Andrew Panzarella was credited with an assist.  Waterloo inched closer making it 3-2 with 5:54 left in the second period with another powerplay goal.  Tyson Fulton got a break when he beat Tibbett on the glove side while Tibbett was using his hands to scoot back into his crease after making a save.  The second period would end with the Phantoms ahead 3-2 and holding a 37-14 edge in shots on goal.

Waterloo tied the game, 3-3, with16:41 left in the game.  Jamie Hill took a feed from Vince Hinostroza and scored shorthanded to knot the contest.  For Hill, it marked the eighth time he found the back of a net this season.

Waterloo scored a fourth consecutive goal to take a 4-3 lead with 4:28 left in the game,  Tyler Zepeda hit a 20-foot wrist shot unassisted that got by Tibbett.

With 3:22 left in the game, Berkle connected unassisted on a big powerplay goal that would tie the game at 4-4.  Berkle’s second of the game drove the big Covelli Centre crowd into a frenzy.  Regulation would end as both teams had a four under their respective cities.  The Phantoms, however, outshot Waterloo 50-21.

In the extra session nobody could score setting up a shootout.  The first Blackhawk to attempt a shot was Alex Guptill who barely trickled one in.  The remaining nine shooters did not score and Waterloo snuck out of the building with the shootout win.  The Phantoms used Berkle, Mattson, Strang, Loney, and Sekac to take the shots.

Assistant Coach Brad Patterson talked about the loss.  “If we play like we did in the first period, we can play anyone in the league with success.  However, it hurts to lose a three goal lead and come out on the short end.  Credit Waterloo for capitalizing on our mistakes and scoring on their powerplays.  We feel good about fighting back to tie the game and get the point, but we also feel we should have never been in that position tonight.”