SPHL Macon Mayhem

Mayhem Win Fourth Straight in First Road Tilt

Published on November 2, 2018 under SPHL (SPHL)
Macon Mayhem News Release


Macon Mayhem LW Derek Sutliffe
Macon Mayhem LW Derek Sutliffe
(Macon Mayhem)

Heading into their first road game of the 2018-19 season, the Mayhem jumped out to a high-flying start and never looked back, conjuring a 4-2 victory over the Fayetteville Marksmen.

Five minutes and thirty seven seconds into the affair, Sam Wilbur discovered a loose puck in front of Fayetteville's net. The Mayhem rookie swatted it through the five-hole of goaltender Alex Murray, giving the Mayhem an early lead immediately following a successful penalty kill. Less than two minutes later, however, Shane Bennett found himself on a breakaway and buried his first goal of the season past Gordon Defiel.

Jake Trask had an answer after being denied on a shorthanded breakaway earlier. Receiving a pass from circle-to-circle on a Mayhem power play by Caleb Cameron, the veteran Trask ripped a shot from the left side to score his fourth goal in as many games. With just 45.7 seconds remaining in the opening stanza, Bennett fired a shot from a tough angle which beat Defiel over his glove to level the score shortly before the first intermission, giving Bennett his second goal of the period.

Derek Sutliffe, who'd been disallowed of a goal twice last weekend before redeeming himself on Saturday night, tallied his second in as many games at 24:19. He collected the puck between the hashmarks and skated down the slot uncontested, showing patience as he tucked it past Murray to give the Mayhem a 3-2 advantage.

Former Marksman Dakota Klecha nearly doubled the Mayhem's lead with a point-blank chance, but he could not stuff it inside the right post. Macon's Nick Minerva and Fayetteville's Michael Casale got into a scrap in the neutral zone in the early stages of the middle frame, which would be the second fight in as many matchups between the two teams. Though the visiting Mayhem had a narrow one-goal lead heading into the second intermission, they held a commanding 31-20 advantage in shots on goal.

Scoring chances were few and far between in the third period. Fayetteville's first big opportunity to draw level came in the closing minutes. Former Mayhem and SPHL Player of the Week Darren McCormick drove to the net from the left corner, but was denied by a timely save from Defiel.

With just over a minute remaining, Marksmen Head Coach Jesse Kallechy pulled Murray in exchange for a sixth attacker. The very same maneuver paid off for Kallechy and the Marksmen back on October 20th, but it would not do so a second time. Justin Levac intercepted the puck in the neutral zone and sniped an empty-net goal in the final 31 seconds. Levac, who leads the entire SPHL in scoring, was able to extend his point streak with the goal. He has now tallied at least a point in each of his first five games of the season. Levac's empty-net goal was presented by the Jackie Whitley and Dawn McCullar Agencies of Country Financial.

Defiel had another strong night in net, stopping 28 of Fayetteville's 30 shots on goal. Defiel remains undefeated with a 3-0-0 record and leads the SPHL in wins. Murray fared well in his Marksmen debut, but was charged with a regulation loss despite denying 36 of 39. The Mayhem will close out their first road series of the campaign on Saturday, November 3rd in Fayetteville. Puck drops at 7:00 pm ET from the Crown Coliseum.

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Macon Mayhem LW Derek Sutliffe
Macon Mayhem LW Derek Sutliffe
   



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