After dropping the 2019 finale, the Gulls came into 2020 looking for their first win of the decade. However, they fell to the Bakersfield Condors in a home match by one goal, but drop farther down in the standings, now four points behind Bakersfield for fifth place.

The Condors struck first 28 seconds into the game when Bakersfield’s left wing Tyler Benson scored his eighth goal of the season, with right wing Josh Currie and defenseman Joel Persson each earned their ninth assists.

Another two minutes after the early Bakersfield lead, defenseman Evan Bouchard shot his fifth goal of the year, along with center Ryan McLeod’s 10th assist and right wing Cameron Hebig’s fifth assist.

Justin Kloos and the San Diego Gulls cut the deficit in half with 10 and a half minutes remaining after the seventh goal of the season for the 26-year-old center.

In the middle period of three, captain center Sam Carrick scored his 11th goal of the season in his return to the AHL to tie the game, with the 13th assist from Daniel Sprong and the eighth assist of Antoine Morand.

Goaltender Kevin Boyle saved 24 of 26 shots on goal in the first two periods, but it was not enough as Boyle saved six of seven shots in the final 20 minutes. Condors defenseman Jake Kulevich scored the game-winning goal for his first goal of the season, and third in 92 AHL games.

The Gulls and Condors return to the ice Jan. 4 for a rematch at 7 p.m. from Pechanga Arena San Diego.