Splash Has New Ending to Familiar Performance

For the second consecutive game, the Splash blew a second-half lead. This time it didn’t cost the team a victory.

Danny Barber scored on Dale Ervine’s second assist with less than four minutes remaining as the Splash beat Portland, 4-3, Friday in front of 4,759 at the Rose Garden.

It was the Splash’s fourth consecutive victory over the Pride. It has Portland on the schedule once more this season.

The Splash (11-10) is tied for second with Sacramento, tonight’s opponent, 1 1/2 games behind San Diego.

The Splash’s second victory in seven games took on dimensions of its 8-7 overtime loss to Seattle on Wednesday, when it blew a four-goal second-half lead. This time, the Splash answered Jeff Betts’ goal 3 minutes 41 seconds into the game with consecutive goals by Ervine, Sam George and Mike Lynch to take a 3-1 lead 4:58 into the third quarter.

It was George’s 15th goal--matching his career best in a season--and Lynch’s first.

But Dragoslav Kostic scored late in the third quarter and Chris Scotti scored early in the fourth to tie the score, 3-3.

Barber’s goal came at 11:37.

Both goalkeepers faced 29 shots, but the Splash’s Ruben Fernandez had 18 saves to Rob Warnell’s 17. Paul McDonnell led the Splash with three blocks and Lynch had two.

The Splash survived Portland’s sixth attacker, Betts (20 goals, 18 assists), over the final 2:34 of the game.

It was Ervine’s first game after serving a one-game suspension Wednesday. Ervine (31 goals, 19 assists), one for 14 shooting in his two previous games, was one for seven against the Pride.

The Splash defense held the Pride’s big three scorers, Betts (38 points), Scotti (45) and Rob Baarts (36) to two goals and an assist.