Rockets Bullied in Overtime Again, 18-17

Jacksonville, FL – October 6, 2012 – The Reading Rockets headed south looking to avenge last week’s overtime loss to the Bullies, but found themselves playing extra time again and falling 18-17 in OT tonight. Jacksonville’s Shawn Wilkins scored with just 0:00.4 left on the clock in the 4^th Quarter to send the game into OT and Kiel Matisz scored his sixth goal of the contest at the 12:01 mark to close out a chippy affair between the two teams. Travis Bland chipped in 11 points (two goals, nine assists) to lead the Rocket attack.

The first quarter began with Reading jumping out to a quick two goal lead, but the Bullies responded with a pair of their own and Jacksonville closed out the first quarter with a 6-5 lead. Five of their six goals were scored by Matisz and Andrew Kirkaldy. Jacksonville’s assault continued in the second quarter as Wilkins took over, scoring three goals in 5:37 to extend the lead to 11-8 at the half.

Newcomer Linden Stevens began the second half with his second goal of the game and Travis Bland added another as the Rockets fired back with five third quarter goals, including Stevens’ third and the first of three by veteran Dan Deckelbaum. Elliott Bender scored a man down at the beginning of the fourth quarter, but Reading would respond with a pair of power play goals just 25 seconds apart to take the lead. Deckelbaum would add what would have been an insurance goal at 2:57, but the Bullies wouldn’t go away.

Junior Bucktooth scored a power play goal at 1:44 to bring Jacksonville within one before Wilkins’ heroics would send it into overtime. Matisz rushed up the middle to pot the game winner and send Reading home with its second straight OT loss. Jacksonville’s home win is the first for a PLL team this season.

The Rockets travel to Charlotte next Friday to take on the Copperheads and return home on November 1^st. Tickets are available at www.rocketslax.com or at the Sovereign Center box office.