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RiverHawks Take 1-0 Series Lead with a Commanding Win

April 8, 2011 - SPHL (SPHL)
Augusta RiverHawks News Release


The Augusta RiverHawks jumped out to a one-game lead in the best of three semi-final series against the Columbus Cottonmouths with a 3-0 win Friday night at the James Brown Arena. Goaltender Jon Olthuis led the way for the RiverHawks with his first career playoff shutout, making 24 saves.

A big key for the RiverHawks was their proficiency on specialty teams. The RiverHawks killed all six of the Cottonmouths' man-advantage opportunities and scored on three of their four power play chances.

The series now moves to Columbus, GA where the two teams will meet Saturday night.

A scoreless, competitive first period gave way to a second period in which the RiverHawks took hold of the game. The deadlock was broken by Captain Matt Auffrey who received a pass from Travis Dunstall at the top of the crease and deflected it in.

Typically the team that is down a goal turns up the heat in the third period, however this time it was the RiverHawks who completely took over the game sending a barrage of shots at Cottonmouths' goaltender Ian Vigier.

Vigier did his best to keep his team in the game, but the RiverHawks broke through with a pair of power play goals from Travis Dunstall. The first was hugely important to the team, as Vigier was making save after save. Dunstall worked his way from the Cottonmouths' blue line into the slot where a sneaky backhanded shot eluded Vigier.

Dunstall had to knock the second goal out of mid-air right in front of Vigier, which ignited a line-brawl immediately following the celebration. The brawl led to 67 penalty minutes being handed out, but nothing that should result in supplementary discipline from the Southern Professional Hockey League.

Game Two of the semi-finals will take place Saturday in Columbus, while if necessary, Game Three will be played back at the James Brown Arena Sunday, April 10th. The puck drops at 7:30pm. Tickets will be available from the James Brown Arena box office Monday. Fans can find out all the information on the playoffs as it becomes available at www.augustariverhawks.com or by calling 706-993-2645 or 1-877-4AUG-TIX.



SPHL Stories from April 8, 2011


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