Jacob Cepis 20th goal of the season couldn’t have come at a better time for the Orlando Solar Bears, as he helped his team edge out the Greenville Road Warriors, Thursday night at the Amway Center in front of an announced crowd of 9,082.

“Were fighting for home ice,” said Solar Bears head coach Vince Williams after the teams 3-2 victory. “You want to go into the playoffs playing good hockey, you want your players playing good hockey and building off of it and riding into the playoffs. It’s momentum.”

The Solar Bears (42-24-2-2, 88 points) sit at fourth in the Eastern Conference standing, following Thursday’s win, and continue their push to keep home-ice advantage in the playoffs.

Despite going down 2-0 in the first period to Greenville, giving up goals to Ryan Hegert and Andrew Roe; Orlando was able to tie the score in the middle frame.

Mr. Cespi got on board first for the Solar Bears, with a goal coming 3:57 remaining in the first, the which won all members in the crowd a free weekday ticket to Carnival Cruise Casino. Connor Goggin would then follow up with a goal in the second period.

Mr. Cepis, who was awarded his ECHL Player of the Month trophy for the month of March prior to puck drop, scored the lone goal of the third period, to give the Solar Bears a 3-2 advantage. The play started when Mickey Lang knocked the puck loose for a Road Warriors with a body check in the offensive end, which Mr. Cepis would recover, and wrap around the net before firing the puck just under the crossbar.

“It’s hard to get goals in any level you play hockey, so I think it’s a good accomplishment,” said Mr. Cepis in regards to recording his second career 20-goal season. “The biggest thing is that we got the two-points to win the game’ It’s nice to score goals and help the team out.”

The Solar Bears will now face the Eastern Conference point leaders, Reading Royals, on Saturday, April 12, at the Amway Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.

The last time these two teams matched up (April 2), the Royals defeated the Solar Bears 6-2, scoring five-goals in the thirds period.