Marksmen Rebound Sends Rivermen Down River Without Paddle

The new guys in the Marksmen lineup must have collectively determined to impressing everybody right away by setting up the 1-0 goal at 5:26 of the first period in Friday night's match up with the Peoria Rivermen. Justin Daly (recently signed to replace the called up Cam Cook) powered the puck to the bottom of the o-zone, before sending it back to Nick Parody (just back with the Marksmen) , who fired in a shot for another new guy Frankie Trazzera who got the tip-in. Before the end of the frame, Connor "Fries in the Winter, Fries in the Summer" Fries dropped the gloves and gave the crowd even more to cheer about. New guy Troy Kobryn stopped all 15 shots he faced in the Marksmen net. 

Daly would extend Fayetteville's lead after winning a puck battle in his own zone and set up a give-and-go with Anthony Yurkins that resulted in Daly’s first goal as a Marksmen. Before the second period was over, Peoria would make it 2-1 game heading into the third period. 

Fayetteville got it to 3-1 on a 4-on-4 even strength situation. Fries took advantage of a broken play off the netminder and sent the puck into the top shelf at nine minutes. Nearly five minutes later, the Rivermen made it 3-2. The Marksmen locked down defensively and scored twice off
a 5-on-3 opportunity late. Justin Michaelian (2) finished on a passing play from Tyler "Wheel" Barrow and Daly , before Grant "Mc" Loven set up John Moncovich to ice the game 5-2. 

With the win, the Marksmen tied the Rivermen in points, and jumped them for second place in the SPHL standings based on points percentage. 

For the second-straight night on home ice, the Marksmen got the scoring started in Saturday's tilt against the Poeria Rivermen. Tyler Barrow put the finishing touches on a feed from Justin Michaelian and Grant Loven at 9:41. Even though Fayetteville and Peoria were matched at 7 in the shots it was the home team taking a1-0 lead into the second period. 

Twenty one shots on goal in the second kept the Peoria netminder on his head as only one would find the back of the net. Justin Michaelian, after a getting some stitch work to the face from a high stick, potted his revenge goal with just 53 seconds left in the period for his third as a Marksmen.
Not to be outdone by his fellow new guys, newest guy Hayden Hulton factored in on the play for his first point as a Marksmen in his debut, and the home squad took a 2-0 score, and 28-14 shot, advantage into the final frame. 

Peoria wasn't to be outdone. Midway through the third the Rivermen found the back of the net twice in a 55 second span to force a dramatic finish. Nick Parody set up Grant Loven for the game-winning goal with 5:57 remaining in regulation when he roofed a backhander from the near-side circle.

The weekend sweep the Fayetteville Marksmen are in sole control of 2nd place in the SPHL standings, 4 points back of the surging Birmingham Bulls, and 2 over the Rivermen. The Marksmen will return to home ice action Saturday, February 10 at home in Fayetteville against the Macon Mayhem.