Snakes hold off Knoxville on the road

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The Columbus Cottonmouths scored goals in both the second and third periods to hold off Knoxville 2-1 on Saturday at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum.

The win avenged a 2-1 shoot- out loss to the Ice Bears on Friday night. The two teams have met seven times this year, with Columbus coming out on top three times.

They will meet three more times this season. At 21-13-2, 44 points for the year, Columbus is tied for fourth in the SPHL standings with the Mississippi River Kings.

Both of Columbus' goals game from Matt Gingera, one in the second and one in the third period.

Gingera scored the game's first goal at the 8:57 mark in the second period on a power play. He was assisted by Max Cook and Neilsson Arcibal.

Knoxville tied the game at 8:37 in the third on a power play goal from Jarrett Rush, who was assisted by Francis Drolet and Robbie Donahoe.

Gingera scored the game-winner with 10:49 to play on an unassisted goal in the third.

The Cottonmouths outshot Knoxville 37-30 in the game, including 28 over the game's final two periods.

Columbus will play next on Tuesday at Fayetteville.

This story was originally published February 7, 2015 at 11:03 PM with the headline "Snakes hold off Knoxville on the road ."