Sabers fall in final minute

In a tight battle that was decided in the final minute of play, the Thrashers defeated the Sabers, 7-6, in Wales Division play at Coast 2 Coast Inline Hockey Center in Huntington Beach.

A quick secession of goals in the third period allowed the Thrashers to gain some breathing room.

First, Kyler Scott opened the period with a goal, and in a 31-second span with less than 11 minutes to play, Chase Pearce and Slater Moore both scored, with Moore’s goal giving the Thrashers a 7-3 lead with 10:17 to play.

But back came the Sabers. Matthew Bennett, Lucas Main and Andrew Medrano all scored in the final 9:23, but Medrano’s goal with 1:41 left proved to be the last score of the game.

Scott and Jake Rennison led the Thrashers with two goals each, and Garrett Blackwell also scored. David Stone finished and Phillip Berman each finished with a pair of assists and Aron Wong had an assist.

Medrano paced the Sabers offense with three goals and an assist. Kyle Christi also scored and Main and Luke Buntich each had an assist.

In other Wales Division action:

Ice Dogs 8, Red Wings 4

Alex Kowalski scored three goals as the Ice Dogs opened up a 7-2 lead on the Red Wings en route to victory.

James Shramek scored twice and Bryan Bennett, Kandice Ehret, Matthew Moore and Ben Sumner also scored. Drew Sorbom contributed a pair of assists and Kowalski and Bennett also had assists.

Ian Marzolf recorded 19 saves.

The Red Wings’ goals came from Patrick Lipscomb, Chase Lipscomb, Tyler Carnival and Michael Borrego.

Chase Lipscomb also had an assist and Jessica Quinones had 17 saves.

Sabers 8, Senators 6

The Sabers outscored the Senators by three goals in the second period and went on to post a two-goal victory.

Luke Buntich, Lucas Main and Andrew Medrano scored two goals apiece for the Sabers. Kyle Christi and Jake Rennison each scored once.

Christi led the team in assists with two and Medrano, Rennison and Matthew Bennett each had an assist.

Todd Smith had 16 saves.

The Senators were powered on offense by Justin Williams, who led all scorers with five goals. Williams also assisted the other Senators’ goal, a third-period score by Ethan Higbee.

Higbee was tops in assists with three and Nick Somes had two assists.

Eric Grant finished with 23 saves.