Loven scores twice, Marksmen top Havoc 5-3 

FAYETTEVILLE N.C. – Grant Loven scored twice and the Fayetteville Marksmen bested the Huntsville Havoc 5-3 in a back-and-forth game at the Crown Coliseum Saturday, earning a weekend sweep. 

The Havoc got the first powerplay opportunity of the game just five minutes into the contest, and Fayetteville killed it off to build momentum before jumping out to a lead on the scoreboard. Near the halfway point of the frame, Dalton Hunter (7) gloved a Huntsville clearing attempt down before firing it toward the net for a Loven (3) tip-in, giving the Marksmen a 1-0 lead. It wouldn’t hold for long though, as Huntsville tied it up five minutes of play later. The teams skated to intermission knotted at ones, and the visitors led the shot column 13-11. 

Once again, Loven (4) found the net from Hunter (8) early in the second period, and the Marksmen took back their lead. The Havoc powered back though, tying the game at 2’s under two minutes later. Huntsville took a 3-2 lead heading into the third, and controlled play late in the frame, outshooting Fayetteville 26-19. 

Cam Cook (3) evened the game up for a third time in the night, when he finished off a passing play from Kyle Soper (7) at 10:15 of the third. Soper (2) would score his second goal in as many games, the eventual game-winning goal, with a slap shot off a faceoff from Billy Jerry (5) 50 seconds later. Huntsville pressured to try and take back its lead, but the Marksmen would add an empty-net goal to seal the deal. Tyler Kobryn netted his sixth of the season, and Ryan Leith picked up an assist (5) on the 5-3 goal.  

The Marksmen extended their standings lead for first place in the SPHL to five points over the Peoria Rivermen. 

The Carolina Reapers will return to the ice for Blackout Wednesday, November 22 at 7 p.m. when they will wear specialty jerseys to be auctioned off after the game. 

For single-game tickets to all 2023-24 home games, visit marksmenhockey.com.