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'Hawks Skate Past Cottonmouths, 5-4

January 11, 2013 - SPHL (SPHL)
Augusta RiverHawks News Release


Augusta, GA--The lead went back and forth all night long but in the end the Augusta RiverHawks took the win, 5-4 over the Columbus Cottonmouths. Chad Ziegler was the hero scoring a goal with just over 12 seconds remaining in the game giving the RiverHawks the emotional victory.

The Cottonmouths opened the scoring in the first period. Just over three minutes in defenseman Tom Maldonado sent a puck towards the net that was deflected by Sam Bowles. RiverHawks' netminder Austin Lee made the initial save, but Bowles' desperate swipe at the puck resulted in it squeezing through Lee's pads for the 1-0 lead.

Just 1:05 later the Cottonmouths increased their first period lead. John Sullivan moved the puck up to Matt Gingera, whose intial shot attempt was turned away by the RiverHawks' defense. However, Gingera found a loose puck right behind him and immediately executed a spin-a-rama backhand that went in off the post behind Lee for the 2-0 lead.

The RiverHawks got out to a quick start in the second period on the power play. Captain Matt Auffrey let loose a drive from the point into traffic. Forward Dennis Sicard managed to get a stick on the shot as it approached the crease and deflected it past Cottonmouths' goaltender Ian Vigier.

Six minutes later the RiverHawks managed to tie the game. Forward Shawn Skelley handled the puck along the boards and sent it towards the Cottonmouths' crease. Alex Morgan won a physical battle in front of the crease and managed to deflect it into the net for his second goal in as many nights.

The RiverHawks kept the momentum going, taking the lead just under two minutes later. Auffrey ran the power play from the point, finding Skelley at the top of the circle in the offensive zone. Skelley measured the play and hammered a slap shot that beat Vigier, giving the RiverHawks the lead.

Augusta's offense was not yet tapped out in the second period, as they extended their lead to two goals. Defenseman Jason Price fired a shot towards the Cottonmouths' net that was blocked. However, the puck went straight to Taylor McReynolds in the slot who quickly fired between Vigier's pads for the 4-2 lead.

Columbus stormed out in the third period with a couple of goals early. First it was Derek Pallardy scoring off of a nice passing play while enjoying a two-man advantage, combining with Mark Thorburn and Sam Bowles to narrow the lead to 4-3.

The game remained a one-goal deficit until just past the ten minute mark. Cottonmouths forward Jordan Braid caught the RiverHawks running around in their own zone and made them pay. Pallardy got the puck over to Braid, who fired it into the back of the net to tie the game.

The game remained tied until deep into the third period, but it was the RiverHawks with a clutch goal to finish the game. Auffrey got Chad Ziegler the puck on the half-boards at the end of a long shift. Ziegler quickly turned around and hammered a slap shot at the goal that beat Vigier, giving the RiverHawks a 5-4 victory.

The Team will hit the ice again tomorrow night, January 12th as they face the Mississippi RiverKings at the James Brown Arena. Saturday night is Pink the Rink presented by Doctors Hospital, as the RiverHawks don pink jerseys during the game. The jerseys will be auctioned off following the game with proceeds going towards the Lydia Project.

The game starts at 7:35pm at the James Brown Arena. Additional information on the Team, tickets, and schedule can be found on the RiverHawks' home on the web,www.augustariverhawks.com,or by calling 706-993-2645.

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