CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – For the fourth time this season just one goal separated the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees and the Corpus Christi IceRays. Unfortunately for the Bees, it was the IceRays who were on the winning end of Thursday’s one-goal game, defeating Rio Grande Valley 2-1 at AmericanBank Center.

The Bees looked good early Thursday and took the lead 3:32 after the opening faceoff when Rob Marsanico (Allendale, N.J.) lit the lamp from the left circle on a top shelf shot after he chipped the puck off the far boards around a defenseman.

Sean Mostrom (Wayzata, Minn.), who recently committed to the University of Denver, picked up an assist on the first goal of the game. The opening goal was Marsanico’s third of the season and his first since Sept. 18.

Rio Grande Valley maintained its 1-0 through a majority of the first period, but Corpus Christi managed a tie at the first intermission when Malo Ville scored with 1:48 left in the first frame. Wes Michaud and Nico Sturm assisted.

IceRay Kyle Froese gave his team the lead – for good, as it would turn out – a little more than eight minutes into the second period when he knocked in a backdoor pass from Jake Durflinger during a man-advantage. Connor Kelly also picked up an assist on Froese’s power-play goal.

With the result still in doubt, the Killer Bees received two power play chances in the third period – one early on Jason Lem’s roughing call and another with eight minutes remaining in regulation when Trevor Heuser was sent to the box for boarding – but could not come up with the game-tying goal.

In all, the Killer Bees went 0-for-4 on the man-advantage. The IceRays scored one power-play goal, Froese’s game-winner in the second period, on four chances.

Killer Bees goalie Olli Kalkaja (Oulu, Finland) made 23 saves on 25 shots, but suffered the loss in spite in of his efforts. Corpus Christi netminder Ben Myers stopped 20 of the 21 shots Rio Grande Valley put on net.

The Killer Bees (21-13-7) and IceRays will square off again Friday night at the State Farm Arena. Faceoff is set for 7:05 p.m. To purchase tickets for Friday’s home game, visit www.ticketmaster.com or the State Farm Arena Box Office. For more information, contact the Killer Bees at (956) 843-5651 or email info@killerbeeshockey.com.