COLUMBUS, GA – On Friday, March 20th, the Columbus Cottonmouths faced their long time rivals from Knoxville at the Columbus Civic Center. By the time the game was over, it was the visiting Ice Bears who were left toothless.
Bryce Williamson netted a hat trick while goalie Shannon Szabados won her eighth straight game as the Cottonmouths came away with a 5-1 victory.
The visiting Ice Bears came out firing in the first period, pouring 16 shots on Szabados who stopped every one. At the other end, Knoxville’s Curtis Martinu was holding his own, matching Szabados save for save except for the one taken by the Cottonmouths’ Shawn Bates that beat him at the 4:43 mark of the frame. The assists on the lone score of the period went to Louis Belisle and Chris Bailer.
Williamson netted his first score of the contest during a Columbus power play early in the second. Matt Gingera and Neilsson Arcibal did the work, combining to get the puck to Williamson who lit the lamp at the 5:34 point of the stanza. Again it was the only goal scored as Szabados turned away all six Knoxville shots she faced.
The Ice Bears finally got on the scoreboard 6:45 into the third period when Ben Power and Sy Nutkevitch set up Matthew Paton for a man-advantage tally. Gingera got that one back just past the midpoint of the frame when he beat Martinu (30 saves) for a power play goal with the assists going to Ben O’Quinn and Andy Willigar.
Williamson put the game away for the home team with a pair of late tallies. His second goal of the game came at the 16:31 mark off a feed from Gingera. He then completed his hat trick by scoring an unassisted goal 26 seconds later.
Szabados finished the game with 31 saves on 32 shots to record her 15th win of the season.
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