Lynx continue struggles

Not even the scoreboard was working right for the Augusta Lynx.

At the end of a 4-1 loss to divisioin foe South Carolina on Friday night, the clock and score reset itself. It wasn't the only thing to short circuit on the night.

The Lynx (12-17-2) let in two early goals thanks to sloppy play in front of the net and couldn't capitalize on six power play chances.

"When we got down 2-0, we started pressing," Lynx coach Bob Ferguson said. "We came out flat and sloppy and they took advantaged of it. When you've only scored two goals in your past three games, the last thing you want to do is get down quickly."

Tempers were hotter than a Low Country Broil in the first period.

After the Stingrays' Ty Morris put his team up 1-0 in the first two minutes, Augusta's Lee Jacobson and South Carolina's Cam McCaffrey dropped gloves less than a minute later.

While Jacobson got the better of McCaffrey, it was just about the only thing the Lynx won all night.

Scott Corbett put the Stingrays (11-13-6) up 2-0 at with 6:22 gone in the first but the Lynx answered quickly.

Joe Pereira tallied Augusta's only goal just 28 seconds later to pull the Lynx within 2-1. Then Augusta's offensive woes surfaced again.

Later, the Stingrays took advantage of turnovers to put the game out of reach.

Craig Olynick netted a slap shot goal from the right circle in the second period to make it 3-1. Marty Clapton finished it with another slap shot in the third.

Augusta goaltender Jason Wolfe made 19 saves, but the team's early woes ended up costing it the game.

"It was tough, he didn't see a lot of shots," Ferguson said. "He made some big saves. We just didn't get the job done on the other end."

Reach Raymond Beasock at (706) 823-3221 or raymond.beasock@augustachronicle.com.