Oilers' Season Ends after Near-Comeback

Tulsa put up a fight but was eliminated in a 5-4 loss to Bossier-Shreveport.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:22 pm

By: News On 6

Originally Published: Apr 24, 2011 12:48 AM CDT

Oklahoma Sports Staff

BOSSIER, La. – The Tulsa Oilers certainly put up an entertaining fight, but in the end their season ended with a loss to the Mudbugs on Saturday.

A furious comeback from Tulsa fell short in a 5-4 loss to Bossier-Shreveport, giving the Mudbugs Game 5 and the series.

Tulsa’s season ended with the loss, which came down to the bitter end.

Bates Battaglia scored Tulsa’s first goal, which tied the game at 1 at the 16:08 mark of the first.

Bossier-Shreveport began to run away with it after that point, scoring the game’s next three goals to hold a 4-1 advantage after two periods.

With their backs against the wall, the Oilers responded in a big way.

Evan Kotsopoulos got on the board with a goal at exactly 5:00 of the third period, and Michael Beausoleil followed it up 57 seconds later with a score to pull to within 4-3.

Bossier-Shreveport responded with a goal at the 9:35 mark to increase its lead to two again.

Chad Costello converted on a power play at 15:29 to pull back to within a goal, but the Mudbugs were able to kill the clock and come away with a tight win.

Bossier-Shreveport moves on to play the Allen Americans in the Conference Finals.