The Mocs, who lost their second straight game, could only muster a power-play goal in the first period by defenseman Jason Smith as the team's rash of injuries to its forwards was evident.

Despite the loss, which put Monroe seven points behind Shreveport in the standings. Moc coach Brian Curran was thinking positive.

"It's not the end of the season for us," Curran said. "I'm very happy with our team. We played hard, and we didn't back down."

The two teams combined for 26 penalties, but Monroe could only convert on 1-of-8 power-play chances against the Mudbugs, who have the WPHL's second-best penalty-killing unit.

"It wasn't the calls he (the referee) made, it was the lack of calls," said Curran, who saw his team called for 12 of the 26 infractions.

Jim Sprott and Tim Hill gave the Mudbugs a 2-0 with their first-period goals, before Smith put the puck past Mudbugs goalie Hugo Hamelin.

Smith's goal was assisted by Russ Parent and Dorian Anneck, who picked up his team leading 77th point.

In the second period, Hill's second goal completed the game's scoring.

Mocs goalie Clint Owen made 26 saves in the loss.

The win clinched a playoff spot for Shreveport, the third team in the WPHL to do so. New Mexico and Central Texas are the other two.