COLUMBUS, GA – On Friday January 16, the Columbus Cottonmouths played host to the Huntsville Havoc in the most recent renewal of the Georgia/Alabama border war. The game was a tight one throughout as Columbus erased a two goal deficit to defeat the Havoc 4-2.
Despite being outshot 11-6, Huntsville controlled the opening period. The Havoc cracked the scoreboard first 12:26 into the frame when Justin Cseter and Drew Akins combined to set up Nick Wheeler who beat Columbus goalie Shannon Szabados to open the scoring. Just over three minutes later, Huntsville doubled its lead when Stuart Stefan lit the goal light off assists from Cseter and Curtis Megginson.
The Cottonmouths collected themselves during the intermission and came out hard in the second. Working on a carry over power play from the end of the first, Neilsson Arcibal and Andy Willigar drew the helpers when Bryce Williamson put the puck behind Havoc goalie Kevin Genoe just 21 seconds in. A little past the midpoint of the frame, Columbus tied the score on another man advantage when Arcibal scored. Matt Gingera and Levi Lind picked up assists on the score.
Columbus had a golden opportunity to take the lead at the 13:30 mark when Louis Belisle was awarded a penalty shot. Genoe (25 saves) was up to the challenge and kept the score even with a big save.
Arcibal and Williamson were the catalysts again early in the final frame, setting up Gingera for the eventual game-winning goal. When Willigar scored at the 11:20 mark off assists from Gingera and Kyle Johnson, the Cottonmouths had all the goals they would need. Szabados stopped all nine Huntsville shots she faced in the third to back up an eleven save middle stanza and collect her sixth win of the season.
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