December Highlights: Sabers Battle Through Three Exciting Matchups

The San Diego Sabers have played three games so far in December, here is a recap!

December 1, 2024 SDS VS. FRM

The San Diego Sabers couldn’t recover from an early deficit, falling 5-2 to Fresno in a hard-fought game.

FRM jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the first period, with Sabers #94 Sam Bailey scoring assisted by #21 Caleb Murray and #54 Hudson Azar, but Fresno maintained control. In the second period, #44 Kai Shepherd scored assisted by #11 Liam Krupcyznski and #29 Mario Bortooli, but the Fresno Monsters ended up outshooting the Sabers 43-23 overall. Both teams went scoreless on the power play despite multiple opportunities.

December 7, 2024 - SDS VS. LBB

The San Diego Sabers held off a late charge from LBB to secure a 5-4 victory in a fast-paced game.

San Diego took an early 2-1 lead in the first and added two more goals in each of the following periods. The first period saw #6 Knut Hornkvist scoring both goals, with assists from #11 Liam Krupcyznski, #6 Markus Gill, #91 Briar Dickson, and #24 Sammy Albano. #94 Sam Bailey scored both goals in the second, assisted by #11 Liam Krupcyznski, #6 Knut Hornkvist, and #21 Caleb Murray. LBB outshot the Sabers 43-33 but couldn’t capitalize enough on their power-play opportunities, going 3-for-4. The Sabers converted one of three power plays and managed to weather LBB's pressure in the third to hang on for the win.

December 13, 2024 - SDS VS. VNV

The San Diego Sabers had six unanswered goals after falling behind early, cruising to a 7-4 win over the Ventura Vikings. 

After trailing 2-1 in the first with one goal from #11 Liam Krupcyznski assisted by #94 Sam Bailey and #6 Knut Hornkvist, the Sabers dominated the final two periods, outshooting Ventura 35-14. San Diego scored three goals in both the second and third frames to secure the victory. In the second period, #4 Aidan Cosgrove, #11 Liam Krupcyznski, and #94 Sam Bailey all scored goals assisted by each other and #6 Knut Hornkvist. The third period saw scoring from #21 Caleb Murray assisted by #2 Owen Robertson and #4 Aidan Cosgrove, a goal by #94 Sam Bailey assisted by #13 Devlin Morgan and #21 Caleb Murray, and finally, the last goal of the game by #20 Noah Black assisted by #7 Tristan Andrews. 

The Ventura Vikings had a strong power play, going 2-for-4, but San Diego's offense and discipline, with just two penalties, proved too much to overcome. 

You can next catch the San Diego Sabers in action on Wednesday, December 18th, 2024 at America First Center Rink 2 against the Isanti Outlaws at 6:00 p.m. PST. 

Cover Photo by Fallon Johnson