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Snetsinger the Overtime Hero for the RiverHawks

February 10, 2012 - SPHL (SPHL)
Augusta RiverHawks News Release


It was a game that thrilled the fans and most likely made the coaches of both teams crazy, but in the end it was the Augusta RiverHawks who pick up a 3-2 overtime victory Friday night at the James Brown Arena.

RiverHawks' defenseman Ed Snetsinger was the game's hero, scoring the unassisted game winning goal just under a minute into the extra frame. The offensive defenseman led a rush all by himself into the FireAntz zone. Instead of making the safe play by just dumping the puck into the corner, Snetsinger curled towards the top of the slot and rifled a shot over the shoulder of FireAntz goaltender Mike Brown.

Snetsinger entered the game as the SPHL's second highest scoring defenseman, trailing only Knoxville's Mark Van Vliet. His second game-winning goal of the season capped off a nice night for Snetsinger, as he finished with an impressive plus-minus rating of +3.

Lost in Snetsinger's overtime heroics may be the play of Brown, who made several highlight reel saves along the way. Brown kept his team within striking distance by shutting the door on the RiverHawks once they took the 2-1 lead. He finished the night with 31 saves.

The FireAntz calmed an energetic James Brown Arena crowd with an early goal to take the lead. Star forward Chris Leveille fired in a shot from the slot past RiverHawks' goaltender Jon Olthuis, putting the RiverHawks on their heels early.

It would take over 14 minutes of first-period action before the RiverHawks were able to tie the game. Captain Matt Auffrey took the puck from line mate Egor Mironov and forced his way to the middle of the ice, getting off a spinning wrist shot that found its way through the legs of Brown.

The game would remain tied until late in the second period when the RiverHawks would manage to take the lead. Once again it was the big line for the RiverHawks doing the damage, as Egor Mironov took advantage of a net left wide open when Brown was taken out of the play inadvertently by one of his teammates. Auffrey and Neil Graham logged assists on the play.

It looked as if the RiverHawks might manage to slide out with the 2-1 victory until a five-minute major penalty was assigned to the home team while they were already short-handed. FireAntz forward Rob Sich made the RiverHawks pay with a beautiful snap shot that beat Olthuis over the shoulder, right underneath the cross-bar setting the stage for overtime.

The RiverHawks are back in action on Phoenix Refrigeration Ice at the James Brown Arena Friday, February 17th, as they play the Columbus Cottonmouths. 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.



SPHL Stories from February 10, 2012


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