COLUMBUS, GA – On Thursday, March 5th, the Fayetteville FireAntz arrived at the Columbus Civic Center ready to take a bite out of the Columbus Cottonmouths. In this case however, it was Bryce Williamson who took a bite out of the visitors.
Williamson recorded a hat trick to support Shannon Szabados’ 21-save effort as the Cottonmouths held on for a 6-4 win.
Williamson was the star of the first period, scoring twice to get Columbus off and running. His first came at the 3:25 mark on a power play with Matt Gingera and Neilsson Arcibal drawing the assists. The second tally came late in the frame, an unassisted score at the 17:24 mark.
The Cottonmouths lead grew to three when Nick Curry scored at the 15:00 point of the middle frame off an assist from Shawn Bates. Fayetteville answered right back 40 seconds later when Chad Hohmann set up Trever Hertz who beat Szabados to trim the margin to 3-1 heading to the third period.
Craig Simchuk restored Columbus’ three-goal margin a little over three minutes into the final stanza off an assist from Patrick McCadden. When Levi Lind fed Will Aide who scored a power play goal at the 9:19 mark, the host Cottonouths had a commanding 5-1 lead.
The FireAntz stormed back, scoring three times in the final four minutes to make things close. Josh McQuade netted the first at the 16:39 mark with the assist going to Kyle McNeil. Then Randy Camerson set up Matt Robertson for a power play score at 17:01 to make it 5-3. When Derek Elliott scored at 19:03, the FireAntz were within one and had a chance.
Williamson sealed the win with with an unasisted empty net tally to complete his hat trick at 19:28.
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