COLUMBUS, GA – When long time hockey rivals meet, no one can ever be sure what will happen. That certainly was the case on Friday, January 30th when the Fayetteville FireAntz made their latest trip to the Columbus Civic Center to meet the Columbus Cottonmouths.
Led by a hat trick and an assist off the stick of Matt Gingera and five points from Bryce Williamson, the host Cottonmouths blasted the FireAntz by a final score of 8-0.
Columbus’ assault on Fayetteville began early in the first period. Just 1:24 into the game, Gingera set up Williamson for a shot that beat FireAntz netminder Jordan Tibbett. The lead doubled later in the frame when during a power play, Levi Lind took a pass from Williamson and scored. Nick Curry picked up the secondary assist on the tally.
Gingera netted his first goal of the night less than four minutes into the middle stanza to push the lead to three.
The final four minutes of the second period were when Columbus put the game away. First, Gingera scored his second straight goal off an assist from Williamson at the 16:34 mark. Less than ninety seconds later, Shawn Bates set up Mike Switzer for a score to make it 5-0. Then in the final minute while working on a five minute power play, Curry lit the goal light off assists from Max Cook and Tyler MacPherson to bring the lead to 6-0.
Gingera concluded his hat trick less than a minute into the third period as the major power play continued with Andy Willigar and Williamson picking up assists on the play. Louis Belisle finished off the scoring at the 13:14 mark off of assists from Bates and Curry.
Columbus goalie Andrew Loewen stopped all 31 shots he faced to earn his 13th win and third shutout of the season. Fayetteville’s Tibbett made 44 saves on the 52 shots he faced in suffering the loss.
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