Athens Stands Tall in Shootout against Snakes
Published on February 14, 2026 under Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL)
Athens Rock Lobsters News Release
MONROE, LA - The Athens Rock Lobsters defeated the Monroe Moccasins 6-5 in the shootout Saturday night in the Monroe Civic Center.
The visitors fell behind 2-0 after a breakaway goal from Jared Christy at 11:09 in the first period and then a Yianni Liarakos power-play snipe two minutes later.
Athens struck back with a Daniil Glukharyov backhand lifter into the top shelf past Tyler Masternak. Garrett Milan would tie the game up at two with a forehand-backhand move later on.
With seconds left to go in the first, Liarakos sprung from the penalty box and converted on a solo breakaway to retake the lead right before the first intermission.
A scoreless second period set the game up for an exciting five-goal final frame.
Scoring his second of the season, Devyn Mayea's pop on the power play tied it back up at 3-3.
Veterans Austin Albrecht and Eric Neiley exchanged goals to make it 4-4 with half the period to go.
Dean Balsamo prompted the Snake Pit to believe they struck late enough to secure a regulation win and a path back to the top of the Continental Division, until Milan pulled out some more magic with a right-circle effort.
Overtime would come with a 5-5 scoreline, and the three-on-three was a back-and-forth affair.
Ultimately, the shootout was needed. Carter McPhail saved three out of four shots as Yianni Liarakos scored the lone shootout goal against Athens this year.
Gleb Bandurkin and Filip Virgili scored in sudden death to secure two points and keep Athens on top of the division.
Athens (25-6-5-0, 84 pts) return to Akins Ford Arena on Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 10:35 a.m., as the Columbus River Dragons come back into town.
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