ROANOKE, Va. (WIAT)– Only two years into the SPHL and the Birmingham Bulls are just one win away from making the President’s Cup Finals.

The Bulls beat the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs 4-3 Thursday night on the road to take a 1-0 lead in the best of three semifinal series. 

With the game tied 3-3 early in the third period, Mike Crocock scored the game winning goal.

That score held for the final 18:48 while the Dawgs outshoot the Bulls 15-2, but they could not solve Mavric Parks, who was named the SPHL’s top goaltender last week.

Game two of the series is Friday night at the Pelham Civic Center. Faceoff is set for 7:30pm.

If a game three is needed, it will be Saturday at 7:00pm.