DRAGONS HOLD ON TO TAKE FIRST THREE POINTS OF DELAWARE SERIES

by Zak DeBeaussaert

Columbus, GA - The Columbus River Dragons held off a Thunder comeback attempt to take the first three points on the weekend by a score of 3-2.

Dalton Anderson got the River Dragons on the board first with a goal at the 5:39 mark off an assist from Jack Riley, marking Riley’s first professional point and giving Columbus a 1-0 lead. Later in the period, MJ Graham extended the Columbus lead at the 15:34 mark, weaving through the defense and sniping the far post and in making the lead 2-0 in favor of Columbus. Just 27 seconds later, Dalton Anderson scored his second goal of the night with a great assist from Jay Croop, extending the lead to 3-0. 

On the ensuing faceoff, Justin Schmit and Alex Basey were involved in a heavyweight fight at center ice which kept the crowd on their fight for the rest of the period.

In the second period Delaware was able to mark their first tally of the night with a goal from Marc-Antoine Brouillette making its way past Bailey MacBurnie's shoulder and over the line with about two and a half minutes off an assist from Alex Soucy, cutting the lead to 3-1 for the River Dragons, and that score would remain until the break.

Late in the third period, Columbus picked up a pair of penalties after an MJ Graham boarding and Jay Croop roughing on the same play/ Delaware would end up scoring at the 15:54 mark of the third period on the power play to make it 3-2. Yianni Liarakos put in a backhand assisted by Alex Soucy, cutting the lead to 3-2 for Columbus. Delaware pulled Greg Harney with about a minute and a half to go and despite multiple offensive zone faceoffs couldn't find the net as MacBurnie saved their last four shots.

The same two teams meet up again tomorrow night for Military night in the Civic Center, the River Dragons will be wearing specialty jerseys that are available for auction now on DASH. Puck drop is at 7:30 with doors opening at 6:00.