AUGUSTA, GA – In a season where they seemingly can beat any team, the Augusta RiverHawks have had one Achilles heel of an opponent – the Knoxville Ice Bears. Five times the two teams had met this season and five time Knoxville triumphed, most of them in a lopsided fashion.
It was a long time coming but the RiverHawks were finally able to beat the Ice Bears. Sunday afternoon at the James Brown Arena, Augusta was able to best their rivals from Tennessee in a 6-5 shootout that was one of the most exciting home games of the year.
The game had all the atmosphere of a heavyweight title fight as a crowd of over 3,000 sat on the edge of their seats as the teams traded blows. Ultimately it was Brendan Taylor who brought the crowd to its feet with the third goal of his hat trick evening with less than three minutes remaining in regulation to give the RiverHawks the lead and the victory. Taylor’s three goals highlighted a big night for his line as captain Matt Auffrey and linemate Branden Kosolofsky each collected three assists.
The RiverHawks got off to a great start, scoring three goals in the first period. Taylor started things off with his first tally of the game just 3:48 in. The score stayed at 1-0 until the late stages of the period when Augusta struck for two quick goals. At the 16:45 mark, Egor Mironov took advantage of a two-man RiverHawks advantage to notch a power play goal. Augusta continued with a one-man advantage and one minute later, Taylor picked up his second of the game to put the home team up by three.
Never ones to quit, the Ice Bears charged back in the middle stanza. Emery Olauson started the comeback at the 6:32 mark when he beat Augusta net minder Peter Skoggard. Knoxville closed the gap to 3-2 one second past the midpoint of the period when David Segal scored. Six minutes later, Dan Bremner found the back of the net to even the score and clearly grab the momentum.
Momentum can change in an instant and that’s exactly what happened 40 seconds after Bremner’s score. Jim Gehring, the SPHL’s leading goal scorer, snuck the puck past Ice Bears goalie Matt Hache, giving the RiverHawks the lead once more as the game headed toward the third period.
Knoxville came out roaring after the intermission, tying the score at four when Olauson notched his second goal of the game just 43 seconds in. The Ice Bears kept pressing and when Segal scored his second goal of the game at 3:06, they had finally gotten into the lead.
With the crowd on their side, the RiverHawks refused to let this game get away from them. Three minutes after falling behind, Neil Graham found the back of the net behind Hache to tie the game at five. Skoggard and Hache went save for save over the next ten minutes then with 2:49 left before overtime, Taylor completed his hat trick to put the RiverHawks up by one. From there, Skoggard shut the door on the Ice Bears to earn the victory.
Augusta%27s Jim Gehring (left) and Knoxville%27s Emery Olauson battle for position.
Knoxville%27s Emery Olauson (23%2C right) celebrates his first goal of the game.
Augusta%27s John Kearns (8%2C grey) tries to get away from Knoxville%27s Eric Satim (17%2C orange) and David Segal.
Knoxville%27s Dan Bremner (upper left) watches his shot beat Augusta%27s Peter Skoggard to tie the game at three.
Augusta goalie Peter Skoggard (33%2C grey) makes a save in traffic.
Knoxville%27s David Segal (28%2C center) tips his second goal of the game past Augusta goalie Peter Skoggard.
Knoxville%27s David Segal (28%2C orange) fights with an Augusta player for the puck.
Augusta%27s Brendan Taylor (19%2C grey) fires home the game winning goal to complete his hat trick.
Contact the photographer at stephanie.simpers@prohockeynews.com
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