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RiverHawks Win Best-Of-Three Playoff Series with 6-2 Victory

April 3, 2011 - SPHL (SPHL)
Augusta RiverHawks News Release


Augusta RiverHawks' Captain Matt Auffrey catapulted his team to victory with the game-winning goal with just 24 seconds left in the second period, paving the way for a 6-2 victory over the Pensacola Ice Flyers Sunday night. The win ends the three-game series with the RiverHawks moving on to face the Columbus Cottonmouths in round-two.

RiverHawks' goaltender Peter Skoggard started his first game of the playoffs and fared well making 30 saves for the win. Skoggard record with the RiverHawks remains perfect, as he finished the regular season with six wins in his six starts with the team.

A balanced scoring attack is a main reason the RiverHawks finished the season so well, and it was once again the case tonight as six players had multi-point games.

After a scoreless first period the two teams exploded offensively in the second, starting with a goal from Jim Gehring who batted the puck out of mid-air through Ryan Scott's legs. The lead did not last long as SPHL Rookie of the Year Chris Wilson evened the score just seconds later with a rocket that beat Peter Skoggard high.

At the mid-way point of the period the RiverHawks took the lead as a shot from Gehring found its way through Scott, but not over the line. Ryan Olidis charged into the crease and poked the puck over the goal line.

The Ice Flyers managed to tie the game once again, this time on the power play when Tanner Shultz deflected a point shot from Tyler Soehner past Skoggard. The RiverHawks would regain the lead with just 24 seconds left when Captain Matt Auffrey found a loose puck at the side of the net and ripped a shot just under the crossbar.

Auffrey's goal would prove to be the difference, but not before an onslaught from the RiverHawks in the third period that provided the insurance. Gehring, Lucas Labelle, and Travis Dunstall would all score in the final nine minutes of the game to secure the victory and get the party started at James Brown Arena.

The RiverHawks now move onto the second round where in-state rivals Columbus Cottonmouths await. The Cottonmouths swept the defending champion Huntsville Havoc in two games in their first round series. The series will begin Friday, April 8th at the James Brown Arena. 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 3, 2011


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