General | 5/11/2024 9:09:07 PM

For Immediate Release | May 11, 2024
USHL News | 2024 Clark Cup Final
 
Fargo Overcomes Dubuque with 6-3 Victory in the Second Game of 2024 Clark Cup Final
Tom Leppa scores twice and Reid Daavettila chips in with four assists as Force take 2-0 series lead
 
       Fargo, N.D. ---   The Fargo Force trailed early in the second game of 2024 Clark Cup Final but scored twice near the end of the opening period and never trailed the rest of the way enroute to a 6-3 victory over the Dubuque Fighting Saints.
 
The win gives the Force a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series with the next game between the two teams set for next weekend in Dubuque.
 
Dubuque took a 1-0 lead when Juraj Pekarcik took a shot/pass from Seamus Powell and put a backhander past Hampton Slukynsky at 6:18 of the first to open the scoring in the contest. Then, near the end of the first 20 minutes of action, the Force scored twice in a 30-second span to take a 2-1 lead into the locker room. Michael LaStarza took a nice feed from Zam Plante and beat Kevin Reidler with a shot on the stickside at 18:44. Tom Leppa’s shot between the pads at 19:14 put the Force up for the first time in the game.
 
The Fighting Saints pulled even with Fargo when Boston Bruins-draftee Beckett Hendrickson cashed in on a goal-mouth feed from Pekarcik at 7:49 of the second. Future University of Minnesota defenseman Leo Gruba fired a shot from just inside the blue line that found its way to the back of the net at 17:58 and after 40 minutes of play, the score favored Fargo 3-2.
 
Lee Parks tallied on the power play at 8:01 of the third as the Force upped their lead to 4-2. Charlie Arends scored a highlight-reel goal a minute later, splitting the defense before backhanding the puck past Slukynsky to pull Dubuque within one. Leppa got his second of the game at 12:31 and after Mac Swanson scored an empty-netter at 19:28, Fargo had its 6-3 victory.
 
The Fighting Saints outshot the Force by a 33-29 margin in the contest. Reid Daavettila had four assists for Fargo in the game and Swanson finished with a three-point game on a goal and two assists.
 
Game three between Fargo and Dubuque is slated for next Friday, May 17 at ImOn Arena in Dubuque.
 
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