GUPPIES RISE TO THE TOP, FLUSHING THE QUICKSILVER 5-3

12/20/02- It was a battle of the two top teams in the league and first place was on the line as the Guppies faced off against the Quicksilver. Both teams have proven that they are the teams to beat this season as they have both manhandled the rest of the league. The Guppies came in with a perfect 7-0-0 record, while the Quicksilver were 6-1-0, their only lose to the Guppies earlier in the season 6-4. The Guppies would strike first as Jason Zito (2-1-3)buried a rebound off Tom Mierkiewicz(0-1-1) shot from the point. The goal came at 1:29 into the first period and it would be the lone goal until late in the first. That's when Brian Mulcahy (1-0-1) scored off a pass from Marc Crayton(0-1-1) giving the Guppies the 2-0, at 17:39 of the first. The Guppies seemed to be in control of the game when the Quicksilver came flying back scoring 2 goals, one with 9 seconds left in the first, giving them the 2-2 tie at intermission. However, the Guppies would regain the lead early in the Second half when Peter Fink(1-1-2) took a great pass from Zito and fired a laser to the lower right side of the Quicksilver net. The action continued to be fast and furious for most of the second half and Joseph Linskey was outstanding in the net for the Gups. He went on to turn away 27 of the 29 Quicksilver shots. The Guppies would add some security to their lead when Brian Kelly(1-0-1) scored a power play goal off a nice pass from Fink. The final nail in the coffin was deliver by Zito as he scored unassisted at the 16:10 mark of the half. Things turned a bit chippy from that point forward, as the Quicksilver started to let out some of their frustrations. The Guppies next game will be on January 3, 2003 vs Team Garcia. The Guppies players and staff would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Safe New Year. We will see you in 2003!!!!

Side Notes:
- John Carroll was out of the line up due to a medical condition but he should be ready to in 2003. Mike Szwed was also a scratch on Friday night and should be back for the next game.
- Friday nights game was the Guppies 20th win a row! Giving the Guppies a perfect 20-0-0 record for all of 2002. It was also the Guppies 50th regular season win in team History, improving to 50-23-3 since 1995. The Guppies overall record improved to an impressive 59-28-3 record.
- Recent Southern League call-up, Peter Fink, impressed the Killingworth fans friday night by scoring the game winning goal. Fink will remain with the Guppies for now and practice with the team. He is however, expected to be shipped back down to Charlotte sometime in January.

Friday's Goal Scorers:
Zito- 2
Fink- 1
Kelly- 1
Mulcahy- 1