Glads Drop 2-1 Decision to Stingrays

Coming off two big wins at home against the Tulsa Oilers, the Gladiators returned to action on Sunday afternoon as they looked to go for three straight victories. Atlanta welcomed the South Carolina Stingrays to the Infinite Energy Arena for their matinee matchup.

South Carolina struck first with a power play goal 9:28 into the opening period. After he received a pass from Tim McGauley in the neutral zone, Olivier Archambault maneuvered his way around two defenders before he fired a quick shot towards the scrum in front of the net. There the puck redirected off the back of Domenic Monardo and into the net for the fourth-year pro’s second goal of the season. McGauley and Archambault were both credited with an assist on the goal that put the Stingrays ahead 1-0.

The Stingrays would then take a 2-0 lead with a tally 12:05 into the middle frame. Archambault corralled the puck in his offensive zone before he faked a shot and cut to the middle. From there the Quebec native wristed a shot that trickled through the arm of Atlanta goalie, Matt Ginn, for his sixth goal of the season. Joe Devin and Alex Brooks both added their name to the scoresheet with an assist on the play.

Atlanta would cut the lead to 2-1 with just over five minutes remaining in the game. Justin Buzzeo received the puck off a turnover in the South Carolina zone and faked a shot from the slot before he sent a backhand pass across the netmouth. On the other side of the crease, Trevor Mingoia then tapped in the pass from Buzzeo for his 11th goal of the season.

Unable to find the offensive prowess that showed on Friday, Atlanta fell to the Stingrays on home ice. The loss dropped the Gladiators to 14-16-4-1 on the year and kept the team in sixth place in the South Division with 33 points. Meanwhile South Carolina was able to win their seventh consecutive game, and jumped to second in the division with a record of 20-11-1-1 and 42 points.