The Fighting Saints returned to the ice on Friday night for a preseason battle with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. The series between the Iowa rivals was lengthy and bitter last season, with the Fighting Saints compiling a 2-2-3 record and the RoughRiders finishing at 5-1-1 against Dubuque.

The RoughRiders struck first in period one, and tallied two goals to take a 2-1 lead into the second period. Lawrence Cornellier scored the lone Fighting Saints goal, assisted by Jake Downing and Matt Morris.

Zemgus Girgensons added two second period goals and TJ Moor scored once in the frame to give the Fighting Saints a 4-2 lead heading into the third period. Matt Morris played the first two periods, and made 19 saves on 21 shots before being relieved by Gabe Antoni.

The third period belonged to the RoughRiders, as they scored three times, including two from Riley Bourbonais, to secure the 5-4 win.

Dubuque and Cedar Rapids will meet tomorrow night at the Coral Ridge Mall in Iowa City. The Fighting Saints continue their preseason schedule next weekend with a home and home series against Chicago (in Dubuque on Friday and on the road Saturday), before travelling to the Fall Classic in Sioux City Iowa the following week.