Gulls Sunk by Condors in Shootout

Mar 1, 2025

By Samantha Mason/SanDiegoGulls.com 

The San Diego Gulls gave it their all tonight, but ultimately could not catch up to the Bakersfield Condors, coming short 5-4 in a shootout. 

Despite the loss, the Gulls are still 8-2-1-1 over their last 12 games. 

Bakersfield opened the scoring with a goal during the first period. Yegor Sidorov earned the first goal for San Diego, his 12th goal and 25th point of the season. With an assist from Roland McKeown and Nikita Nesterenko, these two teams were now tied. 

Nesterenko scored a short-handed goal that put the Gulls in the lead 2-1. But the Condors were right behind him and tied it back up soon after. 

This game of back-and-forth continued into the third period. As soon as Bakersfield scored their third goal, so did Justin Bailey for San Diego. This power play goal marks his 15th goal and 27th point of the season, with assists from Tristan Luneau and Ryan Carpenter. 

Bakersfield made it four, so San Diego made it four with the help of Sidorov. Luneau also tallied his second assist of the game, stretching his assist streak to nine consecutive games. 

With 34 on the season, Luneau now leads the AHL in assists. 

After five minutes of overtime play, neither team scored. These two teams were headed into a shootout, and after three rounds, Bakersfield was ultimately victorious.  

"We needed that point, that's for sure," said head coach Matt McIlvane. "Going down three times in a game, calling back three times, it shows a lot of character, and I think that's the positive that we can take away from this game. I loved our response. Certainly, that wasn't the most beautiful game we've played, but we'll take that point." 

With less than 20 games left in the 2024-25 season, the Gulls are taking each outcome in stride and using it to their advantage. 

"Tons of comeback ability in our group," said Roland McKeown. "I love that we put that win streak together. I think it builds a lot of team confidence. And from game one to now, there's a huge difference, the culture, the standard, and we look to build on the rest of the way here. It's going to be a neck-and-neck race. It's up to us to make sure that occurs."

The Gulls embark on a road trip to San Jose on Wednesday where they will face the Barracuda at 6 p.m. PST.