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RiverHawks Win Eleventh in a Row in Thrilling Fashion

March 25, 2011 - SPHL (SPHL)
Augusta RiverHawks News Release


Eleven wins-in-a-row come in all shapes and sizes, but none more thrilling for the hometown crowd than the Augusta RiverHawks' 4-3 victory over the Columbus Cottonmouths Friday night at the James Brown Arena. The RiverHawks were pushed to overtime in the final game of their inaugural regular season, but defenseman Ed Snetsinger secured the victory sniping a snap shot over the shoulder of Cottonmouths' goaltender Ian Vigier.

The RiverHawks' 11 game winning streak is the longest for any team this season in the SPHL, and just one short of the all-time SPHL record. The win keeps the RiverHawks two points back of the Mississippi Surge in the race for first place with each team having one game yet to play. The RiverHawks are favored in any tie-break scenario against the Surge, and will be crowned regular season champions if they win Saturday night and the Surge lose their game.

The RiverHawks fired out of the gates in the first period putting the first two goals on the board. Neil Graham and Kevin Fukala each beat Vigier and it appeared that the RiverHawks would march easily towards another win.

However, the Cottonmouths would replay with a goal in the second period by Jordan Braid, and then two more to start the third period to give them the one-goal advantage. Braid added his second while Sam Bowles would get the puck past RiverHawks' starting goaltender Peter Skoggard to take the lead.

The RiverHawks would allow the Cottonmouths to hold onto the lead for just a matter of minutes as Snetsinger would set up Drew Baker streaking into the Cottonmouth's zone. Baker wound up from the top of the faceoff circles and blasted a slap shot over Vigier's shoulder to send the game into overtime.

The game winning goal in overtime was initiated by a solid physical play in the RiverHawks' own zone by forward Jim Gehring. Gehring won a puck battle in the corner and knocked the engaged Cottonmouths' forward to the ice in the process, springing Snetsinger and Graham on a two-on-one. Snetsinger crossed the Cottonmouths' blue line and feigned a pass to Graham, but instead elected to shoot, which he executed successfully.

The RiverHawks play Saturday night to determine final playoff positioning. The result will determine the playoff schedule. The playoff schedule will be announced Monday morning. Seven-game playoff packages are available at the RiverHawks Front Office at 706-993-2645. Fans can find out all the information on the playoffs as it becomes available at www.augustariverhawks.com.



SPHL Stories from March 25, 2011


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