'Bugs Beat Bats to Finish Off Weekend
 
BOSSIER CITY, LA - Kevin Cooper's goal early in the third period was the game-winner as the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs knocked off Austin 3-1 Sunday afternoon at CenturyTel Center .  Ken Carroll stopped 24 shots for his 16th win of the season as the Mudbugs swept their three games on the weekend with two victories over the Ice Bats and one over Odessa .

Elias Godoy had a goal and an assist and Mike Falk had two assists for Bossier-Shreveport in the game, which wasn’t decided until Chris Brassard’s goal with 4:02 remaining.

The Mudbugs came out strong in the first period of play, generating chances and outshooting Austin 18-9.  Bats goaltender Doug Groenestege stood his ground in the first 20 minutes though, holding the ‘Bugs to a single goal by Godoy.  After getting an Austin turnover in its own zone, Godoy fed the puck out front.  Falk and Cooper each had chances at it before Godoy came in to finish the play himself and make it 1-0 Mudbugs after one.

Neither team scored in the second period, despite two Austin powerplays and one for Bossier-Shreveport.  The Bats outshot the ‘Bugs 10-9 in the period, but it stayed 1-0 for the Mudbugs after 40 minutes.

Early in the final period, it was 2-0 after Falk stole the puck from a Bats defender and hit Cooper in the slot for his 21st goal of the season at 1:10 of the third.  The Mudbugs would need that two-goal cushion later on, as Austin cut the lead in half midway through the period.  Kurtis Kisio roofed a feed from Brendan Cook past Ken Carroll at 8:14 of the third for Austin ’s first goal of the season against the Mudbugs in the teams’ third meeting.  The game stayed 2-1 until Brett Smith won an offensive zone faceoff back to Brassard, who then hammered home a slapshot to get the two-goal lead back and provide the final 3-1 margin.

Neither team converted a powerplay in the contest, with Bossier-Shreveport finishing 0 for 5 and Austin going 0 for 3.  The Mudbugs finished the game with a 43-25 shot advantage over the Bats.

Up next will be another three-in-three set for the Mudbugs:  Thursday at home against Corpus Christi, Friday at Texas and Saturday back home vs. Mississippi .  Both home games will start at 7:05 pm and tickets are available for each through Ticketmaster (318-741-9700) for individual tickets or the Mudbugs office (318-752-BUGS) for group seats.