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Incredible Comeback Gives RiverHawks Seventh Win in a Row

December 20, 2011 - SPHL (SPHL)
Augusta RiverHawks News Release


Down two goals late in the third period of Tuesday night's game against the Fayetteville FireAntz, the Augusta RiverHawks looked like their six-game winning streak was going to come to an end. However, a good team finds way to win games in improbable situations, and the RiverHawks did just that staging an incredible comeback and defeating the FireAntz 4-3.

It was an incredibly dramatic victory for the RiverHawks who scored three goals in just over three minutes late in the third period to extend their winning streak to seven games. The Southern Professional Hockey League's leading goal scorer Jim Gehring scored his 21st goal of the season with just 1:04 left in the game to put the RiverHawks into the lead for the first time all game, and for good.

The FireAntz led for nearly the entire game, twice extending their lead to a pair of goals, but it was the RiverHawks who dominated the time of puck possession and shots on goal. The RiverHawks finished with an incredible 59 shots on goal, keeping FireAntz' goaltender Mike Brown busy making 55 saves.

RiverHawks' Captain Matt Auffrey continued his stellar play of late, scoring a goal and adding an assist. Down two goals in the second period, he joined forces with forward Aaron McGill to set up defenseman Jason Price for the team's first goal of the game.The FireAntz would regain the two goal lead before the end of the first period when Josh McQuade scored a goal, but after just over 15 minutes of action in the third period it was Auffrey who got things rolling for the RiverHawks, scoring a power play goal. Auffrey's points extend his points scored streak to 11 games and his goal scoring streak to seven. RiverHawks' forward Dustin Cloutier added an assist on the goal, extending his points streak to 17 games.

Less than a minute later it was McGill's turn to play hero, as he took a setup from Jesse Echternach and Kyle Watson and scored to tie the game at three, paving the way for Gehring winner 60 seconds later. With a goal and an assist in the game McGill now has seven points in his past seven games.

The win gives the RiverHawks an 18-3-1 record this season, seven points up on the second place Knoxville Ice Bears while holding three games in hand.

The RiverHawks head on the road for three more games before returning to action on Phoenix Refrigeration Ice at the James Brown Arena Friday, December 30th as they play the Fayetteville FireAntz. The puck drops at 7:35pm. Tickets for the game are available through the RiverHawks' office and the James Brown Arena box office. Additional information on the Team, tickets, and schedule are available on the RiverHawks' home on the web, www.augustariverhawks.com or by calling 706-993-2645. Fans can catch every road game at the Official Watch Party at Somewhere in Augusta at 2820 Washington Road.



SPHL Stories from December 20, 2011


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