Marksmen take back second place, sweep Rivermen

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Fayetteville Marksmen held off the Peoria Rivermen for a 3-2 win and weekend sweep, taking sole possession of second place Saturday at the Crown Coliseum. 

For the second-straight night on home ice, the Marksmen got the scoring started, this time Tyler Barrow (7) finished a cross-ice feed from Justin Michaelian (3) and Grant Loven (19) at 9:41. Fayetteville and Peoria were matched in the shot column at 7 aside, but the home team took its 1-0 into the second period. 

Fayetteville came out firing in the middle frame, sending 21 shots onto the Peoria net, and ultimately scoring on the final one. After falling victim to a high-sticking penalty and having to get stitched up in the training room, Michaelian returned to the ice and potted in his revenge goal with just 53 seconds left in the period for his third as a Marksmen. Hayden Hulton (10) 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. 

Near the halfway point of the third, Peoria found the back of the net with 2 goals in a 55 second span to force a dramatic finish. Nick Parody (6) set up Loven (11) for the game-winning goal with 5:57 remaining in regulation when he roofed a backhander from the near-side circle. 

The Marksmen will return to home ice action Saturday, February 10 for Operation Sellout against the Macon Mayhem. 

Single-game tickets to Operation Sellout and all home games are available at marksmenhockey.com.