Shamrox Captain Cam Woods tracks down a loose ball (Photo: grabowskiphoto.com)

HOFFMAN ESTATES, ILL. – The Chicago Shamrox outscored the Buffalo Bandits 8-5 in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to overcome another slow start as the Bandits topped the Shamrox 12-11 at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Ill. [Boxscore]

Mat Giles scored with :50 left in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to one. After calling a timeout with :15 left, Shamrox Head Coach Jamie Batley pulled goaltender Brandon Miller to set up a potential tying goal but the Bandits defense hung tough, forcing a turnover to seal the win.

The Bandits took advantage of every advantage they could, as they converted all five of their power play opportunities.

“We have to be better disciplined.” said Shamrox forward Chris Panos. “We can’t give a team like Buffalo good looks to score. They are too good on the power play to let that happen.”

Following a season-long trend, the Shamrox dug themselves into a 7-2 hole late in the second quarter. That hole was just too big for the first-year team to dig themselves out of.

Forward Josh Wasson-McQuigge drives to the net (Photo: grabowskiphoto.com)

“We don’t have the offensive power to come back from those kind of deficits.” said Shamrox forward Jason Clark. “We are still comfortable with where we are as a team. We are still in a playoff position. We will just have to turn it around next week.”

The Shamrox return to action against the Toronto Rock on Sunday, February 18 at 2:30 p.m. CST at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Shamrox return home on Saturday, February 24 against the Minnesota Swarm at 7:30 p.m. CST. Tickets are on sale now by calling 877-SHAMROX or by visiting chicagoshamrox.com.

Game Notes: Clark and Jon Harasym led the Shamrox with 5 points. Bandits forward John Tavares led all scorers with 7 points (4g, 3a). Shamrox goaltender Brandon Miller stopped 44 goals on 56 shots.