AUGUSTA, GA – The Augusta RiverHawks dominated the game in every aspect but on the scoreboard on Friday, November 30th at the James Brown Arena, and as a result they fell 2-1 to the Huntsville Havoc in a shootout.
The RiverHawks threw everything they had at Havoc netminder Jonathan LaRose, firing off 46 shots and getting turned aside on 45 of them. By comparison the RiverHawks held the Havoc to just 25 shots on their goaltender BJ O’Brien.
The RiverHawks got off to a great start early, taking the play to the Havoc immediately and cashing in just 4 minutes into the first period. RiverHawks’ forward Chad Ziegler took the puck across center ice into Huntsville territory and found Dennis Sicard. Sicard quickly moved the puck to forward Matt Atsoff, who punched his first goal of the season.
Augusta really turned up the heat on the Havoc in the second period, getting off 17 shots compared to just 4 for Huntsville. However, the highlight of the period for the team was a fight by Sicard, who took on the much larger Bill Baker and got the better of the match-up. Despite all of the positive energy for the RiverHawks, both teams went scoreless and the score remained 1-0.
If there was one area of the game where the Havoc got the better of the RiverHawks, it was on special teams as the Havoc killed all six of the RiverHawks’ opportunities. To make matters worse for the RiverHawks, early in the third period the Havoc was able to find a weak spot in Augusta’s power play. Ian Boots went across the slot to Matt Smyth on a short-handed rush four minutes into the period, and he fired it into the net past O’Brien to tie up the game at one a piece.
Neither team was able to score in overtime despite a handful of great chances for the RiverHawks, and one main chance for the Havoc who fored O’Brien to make a big save. The game then moved to a five-player shootout. The first three RiverHawks in line for the shootout were turned away by LaRose. Huntsville’s Ian Boots was the first to push it past O’Brien to give the Havoc the advantage, followed by Jeremiah Ketts who put the Havoc up by two. RiverHawks’ Captain Matt Auffrey answered right back to keep his team in it with a highlight reel goal, but it would be former RiverHawk Aaron McGill that would end the game firing a puck past O’Brien to secure the win for Huntsville.

Huntsville%27s Bryant Doerrsam (3%2C white) and Bill Baker (67) tussle with Augusta%27s Ian Watters (9%2C blue) in front of the Havoc net.

Huntsville%27s Matt Smyth (4%2C white) jams RiverHawk Chad Ziegler against the boards.

Augusta%27s Dennis Sicard (18%2C blue) and Huntsville%27s Corey Fulton in a first period battle.

Augusta%27s Chad Ziegler (59%2C blue) goes airborn to avoid Havoc goalie Jonathan LaRose.

In the second period%2C Huntsville%27s Bill Baker (67%2C white) and Augusta%27s Dennis Sicard squared off in the second period…

Sicard eventually took Baker down to the ice.

RiverHawk Matt Atsoff (8%2C blue) puts the puck past Havoc netminder Jonathan LaRose.

Huntsville%27s Ian Boots (10%2C white) scores on Augusta goalie BJ O%27Brien in the shootout.

Huntsville celebrates its shootout win over Augusta.

AUGUSTA, Ga – The Augusta RiverHawks put together their best home effort of the season to date on Thursday, November 29th at the James Brown Arena and it was nearly enough for the home team to knock off the top team in the SPHL. However, a break-down late in the third period and a couple of bad penalties led to the Fayetteville FireAntz edging the RiverHawks 4-2.
It was the RiverHawks’ first game since making a change behind the bench, as they relieved Rob Miller of his coaching duties and handed them to Team President Mark Richards. It was a strong effort for the RiverHawks against a FireAntz team who had been dominant in SPHL play over the first month of the season.
The RiverHawks looked strong early in the first period, but were unable to capitalize on a pair of power play opportunities in their favor. With just over nine minutes left in the period, Fayetteville’s Bobby Reed set up the first goal of the game as Josh McQuade snuck the puck past RiverHawks’ goalie Robby Moss. The RiverHawks kept pressing for a goal, led by Captain Matt Auffrey who three shots on goal on his own, but were unable to solve Fayetteville goaltender Marco Emond.
The RiverHawks dug themselves into a hole in the second frame. Less than two minutes into the period, Fayetteville’s Bobby Reid set up a quick goal for Kyle Frieday into the right side of the net. The RiverHawks were able to apply some pressure to try to narrow the lead, firing 14 shots at Emond in the period but they were once again unable to beat him.
The RiverHawks needed a spark in the third period to grab the game’s momentum, and they got just that when Taylor McReynolds got the better of Kyle McNeil in a spirited fight just two minutes into the period. The RiverHawks were clearly energized by their teammate’s effort, and finally were able to solve Emond. Forward Chad Zeigler passes across the slot to Patrick Schafer, who hammered a one-timer into Fayetteville’s net for the RiverHawks’ first goal. Less than twenty seconds later, Shawn Skelly found defenseman Drew Baker alone at the point. Baker blasted a slap-shot through traffic in front of Emond, and forward Kyle Watson was able to get a stick on it and deflect it past the FireAntz’ net-minder for the goal.
The RiverHawks carried the play for most of the third period, putting the FireAntz on their heels. However, McQuade, the SPHL’s leading scorer, somehow found a way to sneak a harmless-looking shot past Moss and barely over the RiverHawks’ goal-line for the go-ahead goal. The RiverHawks were unable to help themselves as time ticked off the clock, with Baker and Ian Watters each taking ill-advised penalties within the last 2 minutes to give the FireAntz a 5-on-3 power play. McQuade took advantage, firing home his third goal of the evening to create the final score.

Shot by Augusta%27s Pat Schafer gets past Fayetteville goalie Marco Emond.

Fayetteville%27s John Clewlow (7%2C black) and Augusta%27s Matt Atsoff battle along the boards.

RiverHawk Pat Schafer (21%2C white) tries to get away from a Fayetteville opponent.

Augusta%27s Andrew Wright (14%2C white) lits Fayetteville%27s Derek Elliott (10%2C black) in front of the Augusta bench.

RiverHawk Kyle Watson (17%2C white) deflects a shot past FireAntz goalie Marco Emond to tie the game at two.

Augusta%27s Taylor McReynolds and Fayetteville%27s Kyle McNeil in a heavyweight bout.

FireAntz John Clewlow (7%2C black) and Anthony Bergin (27%2C black) surround Augusta%27s Matt Auffrey.

The FireAntz celebrate Kyle Frieday%27s second period goal.