Cottonmouths fall to Louisiana 5-3, officially out of playoff race

COLUMBUS, GA (WTVM) - Playoff hopes for the Columbus Cottonmouths officially ended Saturday night as the Snakes fell to the Louisiana Ice Gators, 5-3.

It was a tall task already for Columbus to make it, they had to win their remaining four games, and Louisiana had to lose their remaining games as well, but they still mathematically had a shot heading into the game against the Ice Gators.

The Snakes came out on fire, scoring in the first three minutes of the game to take a 1-0 lead off Chad Bennett's wrister goal.  Louisiana bounced right back and scored less than two minutes later to tie it up on a Tyler Prendergast goal.

Later in the first, the Ice Gators took the lead thanks to john Daniels going top-shelf on Snakes goalie Brandon Jaeger, and had a 2-1 lead going into the first intermission.

Louisiana added to their lead in the second period with a Matt Robertson goal, making it 3-1. Columbus responded with a goal from Kyle Shapiro, cutting it to 3-2.

From there, it was back-and-forth, as both teams traded goals the rest of the way and Columbus fell 5-3.
 
"Our 20th season, that wasn't supposed to be," head coach Jerome Bechard said. "After 12 years, that was the first time haven't been in the playoffs, first time we've been knocked out and not in anything. It's kind of new territory for me as a coach as well trying to keep these guys motivated and going from there. I like what I saw tonight with them. They gave me everything they got right until the last minute, and that's all I can ask for."

There are still a few games left for the Snakes. They hit the road next week to face the Peoria Rivermen for a three-game set to end the season.

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