Gades settle for a split

Ryan McCarthy scored twice, Tim Green and Mat Ponto added a goal and two assists apiece and the Columbus Cottonmouths drubbed the Richmond Renegades 7-2 last night in Columbus, Ga., for a split in their weekend series.

Ryan Rutz scored on a power play at 17:59 of the opening period, and McCarthy lit the lamp unassisted 42 seconds later for a 2-0 lead.

After John Halverson halved the Renegades' deficit at 3:09 of the second period. Mat Ponto and McCarthy scored before the period ended to put the game out of reach.

Ryan Scott, who kicked out 34 of 35 shots in Friday's 2-1 win, was shelled for four goals on 14 shots. He was yanked in favor of Adam Dekker following McCarthy's second goal.

Richmond ------------------------- 0 1 1 -- 2
Columbus ------------------------- 2 2 3 -- 7

Firsr Period -- 1, Columbus, Rutz 4 (Ponta, Mista), 17:59 (pp). 2, Columbus, McCarthy 9, 18:41. Penalties -- Leslie, Rich, major (fighting), 1:32; Withers, Rich, major (fighting), 1:32; Johnson, Col (tripping), 3:41; Rollins, Rich (hooking), 12:11; Withers, Rich (hooking), 16:21.

Second Period -- 3, Richmond, Halverson 7, 3:09. 4, Columbus, Ponto 4 (Stahl, Green), 8:37. 5, Columbus, McCarthy 10 (George, Ponto), 12:16. Penalties -- Ponto, Col (roughing), 1:20; Price, Rich (unsportsmanlike conduct), 2:33; Schulz, Col (tripping), 9:13; Johnson, Col (interference), 14:38; Rutz, Col (roughing), 17:30.

Third Period -- 6, Columbus, Jensen 3 (Bowles, Green), :32. 7, Columbus, Misita 6 (Markhovski, Rutz), 2:33. 8, Richmond, McLaughlin 11 (Busby), 6:40 (sh). 9, Columbus, Green 13 (Jensen), 11:21. Penalties -- McLaughlin, Rich (hooking), 2:23; Green, Col, major (fighting), 2:38; Joy, Rich, major (fighting), 2:38; Lundale, Col (holding), 3:31; Oke, Rich (hooking), 4:58; Johnson, Col (high-sticking), 12:43; Joy, Rich (tripping), 15:02.

Shots on goal -- Richmond 8-10-11 -- 29. Columbus 7-9-9 -- 25. Power-play opportunities -- Richmond 0 of 7; Columbus 2 of 6. Goalies -- Richmond, Scott 2-2-1 (14 shots-10 saves); Dekker, 12:16, 2nd (11-8). Columbus, Vigier 5-4-2 (29-27).