Glads Fall 3-2 to Rays Sunday

With both teams playing in their third game in as many days, Atlanta and South Carolina once again squared off - this time in Charleston. The final score mirrored Friday’s 3-2 result, but it was the Stingrays who would snag the game winning third goal to emerge victorious Sunday afternoon.The Gladiators took an early first period lead with a goal by Brock Higgs at the 7:32 mark of the opening frame. The second-year pro notched his eighth tally of the year on a rebound that ricocheted off Stingrays goaltender Branden Komm. Mike Merrifield was credited with his eighth helper of the year on the original shot, and Daniel Bahntge got his seventh with the secondary assist.South Carolina responded quickly and tied the game at one, 10:42 into the first period. Bobby Shea sent the bears to the ice on Teddy-Bear Toss day with a shot from the left point the beat Atlanta goalie Matt Ginn glove side. Stephan Vigier set up the play and notched his ninth assist on the year, while Andrew Rowe collected his tenth helper on the play.Tyler Murovich put Atlanta back in front 2-1 on his seventh goal of the year with 8:30 left in the second period. The assistant captain knocked the puck out of mid-air in front of the net, where it landed on the goal line where Komm leaned back to cover it and knocked it in with heavy traffic in front. Joe Stejskal was credited with his third assist after he took the original shot from the point.The Stingrays tied the game up once again with 3:13 left in the second frame. Nick Jones scored his second goal of the year as he put in a rebound to the left of Ginn. Joe Devin started the play by speeding into the offensive zone and backhanding a shot that went off the pad of the Gladiators rookie goaltender. The product of Cornell University was credited with his twelfth helper of the year, while Colin Mulvey notched the secondary assist on the play.South Carolina took their first lead of the night which would hold up to be the game-winner on a rebound goal by Andrew Rowe with 13:29 left in the third period. The sixth-year pro shot the puck into an open net after Ginn stopped the original shot from Mulvey. With his second assist of the night, Mulvey now has a total of four helpers on the season. With the loss in South Carolina, Atlanta drops to 13-9-1-0 on the year with 27 points. Getting the two crucial division points, the Stingrays improve to 15-9-1-1 on the season with 32 points.