COLUMBUS, GA – On Friday, April 3rd, the Columbus Cottonmouths had their backs against the wall in the first round of the SPHL’s President’s Cup playoffs. Having lost game one of their best-of-three series to the Knoxville Ice Bears, the Cottonmouths did not want to let their fans down by being swept at home – and they did not disappoint.
Bryce Williamson and Andy Willigar each scored two goals and goalie Andrew Loewen stopped 37 of the 38 shots he faced as Columbus stayed alive with a 5-1 win over their rivals.
Williamson started the scoring on a power play just 3:20 into the contest. Ben O’Quinn and Willigar picked up the assists when Williamson beat Ice Bears goalie Braely Torris with a shot. It was the only score of the frame but certainly was not the only action as the teams combined for eight minors and 16 penalty minutes in the period with plenty more to come.
The Cottonmouths extended their lead to two when Matt Gingera and Neilsson Arcibal combined to set up Willigar for his first goal of the game at the 12:53 mark It came on a Columbus power play as did Willigar’s second of the night 2:17 later. Arcibal and O’Quinn picked up the helpers on the play that gave the home team a solid 3-0 lead heading to the third period.
When Williamson notched his second score of the game off an Arcibal assist at the 8:26 mark of the third period, it pushed the lead to 4-0 and transformed the contest into a battle. Knoxville finally beat Loewen when Josh Cousineau score a power play goal off assists from Ryan Salvis and Berkley Scott at 8:50. Seconds later tempers flared and Columbus’ Will Aide and Knoxville’s Robbie Donahoe dropped the gloves. From the 8:58 point through the rest of the game, the teams combined for 64 minutes in penalties.
Columbus closed out the scoring when Craig Simchuk scored off a pass from Patrick McCadden with 7:18 left in the contest.
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