Bennett, Cottonmouths Bite IceGators
March 6, 2016 - SPHL (SPHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release
LAFAYETTE, La. - The Louisiana IceGators' entered Sunday's game with a four-game winning streak over the Columbus Cottonmouths.
That streak is no more.
The Cottonmouths skated circles around a sluggish IceGator squad en route to a 5-3 win in the Cajundome. Chad Bennett scored twice to lead the Cottonmouths to the victory.
The IceGators are back in action Wednesday when they host the Pensacola IceFlyers in the Cajundome. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m.
"This was overall the worst game we've played this season," IceGators head coach Drew Omicioli said. " We played with zero effort. Give credit to Columbus. They outworked us and outcompeted us. They earned their two points.
"There's not much positive to say about this one. It's just one of those games you would like to forget about and move on. "
The Cottonmouths jumped out to a 1-0 lead halfway through the first period when Rusty Hafner scored off assists from Andy Bathgate and Dylen McKinlay.
McKinlay extended the Cottonmouths' lead 98 seconds into the second period with a goal of his own off assists from Bathgate and Kyle Shapiro.
The IceGators recovered, tying the score with two goals in a two minute span. Blake Hietala put Louisiana on the scoreboard 5:18 into the middle frame after receiving assists from Dylan Hood and Jake Hauswirth. Hauswirth knotted the score at the 7:08 mark after getting assists from Geordie Wudrick and Hood.
Columbus responded to those goals with two more of their own. Bennett's scored his first goal with 8:57 remaining in the second period and then assisted on a Kyle Shapiro power play goal 4:42 into the third period. Tyler Henry assisted on both scores.
Zac Frischmon cut the IceGators deficit to 4-3 with 10:29 left in the contest when he scored off assists from John Daniels and Ben Kramer.
The Cottonmouths put the nail in the IceGators' coffin when Bennett recorded his second goal on an empty net with 22 seconds on the clock.
The IceGators will take some time to recover from this loss and to figure out where they go from here.
"We will watch this game and learn from the video what we did wrong and be sure not to make the same mistakes again," Omicioli said.
SPHL Stories from March 6, 2016
- Bennett, Cottonmouths Bite IceGators - Louisiana IceGators
- Jacobson's First Pro Shutout Lifts Rivermen to 3-0 Win Sunday - Peoria Rivermen
- Ice Flyers Rifle 53 Shots on Goal, Shutout 3-0 - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- Ice Bears Sweep Fayettevile in Three Games - Knoxville Ice Bears
- Rivermen Game Notes vs Pensacola - Peoria Rivermen
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