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Sports Goodbye, Johnny Lobos Conquer MWC, Set Sights on the NCAA Some Ex Lobos Put the ‘New Mexico’ in N.M. Games ‘He’s Going To Do What It Takes’ |
Sunday, February 15, 2009
N.M. Foiled by Ex-Scorp
By Glen Rosales
For the Journal
RIO RANCHO — Andrew Martin didn't do much for the New Mexico Scorpions this season when he was their goaltender. But he turned into a true thorn Saturday against his former team.
Martin, who was 9-14 while wearing the maroon Scorpions' sweater, turned away 21 shots to lead Laredo to a 4-2 victory in front of an announced crowd of 2,544 at the Santa Ana Star Center.
With consecutive losses to Laredo over the weekend, the Scorpions' three-game winning streak is now a distant memory and their chances of reaching the Central Hockey League playoffs become yet more difficult.
With Arizona winning in overtime Saturday, the Scorpions have dropped nine points behind the Sundogs for the fifth and final playoff spot.
"It felt good," Martin said of the outcome. "I'm not going to lie. I was pretty nervous. It's been a long time since I was that nervous before a game."
He certainly didn't play nervously as he faced his former teammates.
"He played great," New Mexico coach Randy Murphy said of Martin. "He's got an experienced team in front of him. A team that's been there before. But he played a good game."
The Bucks' new goaltender survived a called-shot from his old roommate, Craig Macdonald.
"I ran into him at lunch," Martin said. "He jokingly told me he was going to get me glove side. And he did. It was a great shot."
Macdonald's score came toward the end of the first period, five seconds after a New Mexico power play ended. He one-timed a pass from Seth Leonard to even the game at 1.
"It's funny," Martin said of the goal. "Of course, it wouldn't have been so funny if we had lost."
The goal was Macdonald's team-leading 27th of the season, and he would later add his 30th assist.
Laredo gained control of the game early in the third period, scoring 18 seconds in to break the 1-all tie, then adding some insurance minutes later.
It proved to be just enough.
Tom Maldonado brought New Mexico within a goal with 13 minutes remaining, but Martin couldn't be beaten the rest of the way.
"It was kind of bittersweet," said Martin, who was released Jan. 27. "I still have a lot of friends over there."
Actually, this was his first chance to see his friends on the Scorpions.
"I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to any of them because they were on the road when I was released," Martin said.
His counterpart for New Mexico, Kyle McNulty, stopped 19 shots and for the second night allowed the high-powered Bucks just three goals.
The visitor also scored on an empty netter in the final seconds.
"We did what we wanted to do," Murphy said. "We actually outplayed them for 45 minutes. But we made some mistakes and they took advantage."
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