Renegades drop second straight to Cottonmouths

Richmond's third-period surge fell short as a four-goal defict proved too much to overcome in the Renegades' 5-4 loss to the Columbus Cottonmouths last night in Columbus, Ga.

It was the Renegades' second loss in as many nights to the Cottonmouths, who skated off with a 5-1 win Friday night.

Last night's rematch had a similar feel, with Columbus ahead 5-1 through two periods. But Bill Zalba scored twice -- bookending a goal by Matt Withers -- as the Renegades closed to 5-4 with 5:49 to play. They couldn't get the equalizer, however, despite an 18-6 advantage in shots the final 20 minutes.

The Renegades (27-23-2) entered the two-game set having won eight of their previous nine.

Richmond ------------------------- 1 0 3 -- 4
Columbus ------------------------- 2 3 0 -- 5

First Period -- 1, Columbus, Hergott 7 (Misita), 3:40. 2, Richmond, Joy 21 (Withers, Sicard), 7:46. 3, Columbus, Hergott 8 (Misita, Lundale), 13:49 (sh). Penalties -- Vandermeer, Rich (hooking), :37; Patterson, Col (interference), 13:29; George, Col (elbowing), 15:00; Green, Col (holding puck), 18:16.

Second Period -- 4, Columbus, Ponto 10 (Patterson), 1:57 (pp). 5, Columbus, Rutz 11 (Patterson, Slusher), 5:38. 6, Columbus, Green 32 (Bowles, Vigier), 19:44. Penalties -- Zalba, Rich (hooking), :27; Lundale, Col, major (fighting), 1:06; Larke, Rich, minor-major (boarding, fighting), 1:06; Leslie, Col, major (fighting), 5:41; Withers, Rich, major (fighting), 5:41; Misita, Col (tripping), 9:42; Vandermeer, Rich (hooking), 10:26; Joy, Rich (slashing), 10:32; McCarthy, Col (roughing), 11:30; Busby, Rich (roughing), 11:30.

Third Period -- 7, Richmond, Zalba 4 (Rollins, Karasiewicz), 1:49. 8, Richmond, Withers 3 (Lyke, Vandermeer), 7:05. 9, Richmond, Zalba 5, 14:11. Penalties -- Patterson, Col (hooking), 9:58; Ponto, Col (tripping), 15:57.

Shots on goal -- 12-5-18 --35. Columbus 11-21-6 -- 38. Power-play opportunities -- Richmond 0 for 6; Columbus 1 for 5. Goalies -- Richmond, Scott 12-9-2 (38 shots-33 saves). Columbus, Vigier 16-9-3 (35-31). Referee -- Seth Ferguson. A -- 3,570.