Fayetteville Drops Roanoke 6-5 (1-1-25)

By: Joey Raymond

Headline Photo Credit: Katie Raymond-LMS Network

Roanoke, VA –The Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs are riding high after a thrilling 5-4 victory over the Knoxville Ice Bears on White Out Night, marking their 12th win in their last 15 games and extending their home winning streak to nine. Cory Doney and Aidan Girduckis each scored their first professional goals, Billy Roche extended his goal streak to three games, and Nick Ford contributed a goal and an assist while also earning his second Player of the Week honor this season. Ford now sits second in the SPHL for points and assists, solidifying his role as a key contributor for the Dawgs. Captain Mac Jansen and goaltender Tyler Roy also delivered crucial performances, with Roy securing the win despite a late Knoxville comeback attempt. Adding to the team’s momentum, Tommy Munichiello pushed his point streak to nine games, the second-longest in franchise history, as Roanoke continues to dominate the league.

On the other side, the Fayetteville Marksmen are proving resilient under first-year head coach Kyle Sharkey, who has guided the team to a solid 14-9-1 start despite significant roster turnover. With only two of last season’s top 15 scorers remaining, newcomers like rookie Alex Gritz and Dalton Hunter have stepped up to keep the offense rolling. Meanwhile, goaltender Ryan Kenny has been a consistent force, posting an 11-5-1 record with a .915 save percentage. Despite injuries and key departures, the Marksmen’s defensive core, led by Nick Parody and Tyler Love, has provided stability. Sharkey’s defensive expertise and a balanced attack will be tested as Fayetteville looks to halt Roanoke’s red-hot streak in this pivotal SPHL matchup.

First Period: Trading Blows and Quick Responses

The puck dropped, and the intensity was palpable as Roanoke and Fayetteville wasted no time throwing heavy hits and battling for control. Roanoke dominated possession early, keeping the puck deep in the Fayetteville zone, which gave them a noticeable edge in momentum despite the shots on goal being relatively even.

Eventually, the Dawgs’ pressure paid off as Carson Gallagher found the back of the net halfway through the first period, giving Roanoke a 1-0 lead. However, Fayetteville responded almost immediately. The Marksmen’s Ryan Nolan broke away from the Roanoke defense and slipped a shot past Austin Roudebush to tie the game 1-1 in dramatic fashion.

The back-and-forth continued just two minutes later when Gustav Müller restored Roanoke’s lead with a goal that reignited the crowd. The rest of the period saw both teams trading chances in a seesaw battle, but the score remained 2-1 heading into the first intermission.

Second Period: Momentum Swings and Missed Opportunities

The second period opened with Roanoke on the power play after Fayetteville’s John Aonso committed a tripping penalty. The Dawgs capitalized quickly, as Mac Jansen extended their lead to 3-1 with a power play goal.

Fayetteville, however, was far from done. Just minutes later, a defensive miscue by Roanoke gave Alex Gritz a clear path to the net, and he didn’t miss, cutting the deficit to 3-2. From there, the Marksmen seized momentum, pinning the Dawgs in their zone.

Midway through the period, Roanoke’s Aidan Girduckis was called for tripping, and Fayetteville capitalized on the power play with a goal from Austen Long, tying the game 3-3. As the energy shifted, tensions boiled over. A blindside hit by Fayetteville’s Elias Thomson on Nick Ford sparked the first fight of the night. Thomson was hit with a 10-minute misconduct and a 4-minute penalty for roughing, giving Roanoke a golden opportunity to regain control.

Despite the extended power play, the Dawgs couldn’t convert, and Fayetteville took full advantage. Ryan Nolan’s rocket shot gave the Marksmen their first lead at 4-3, and shortly after, Gritz struck again following a defensive breakdown to make it 5-3. The Berglund Center fell silent as the second period ended with the Dawgs facing an uphill battle.

Third Period: The Comeback Kings?

With a two-goal deficit and 20 minutes left, Roanoke needed to dig deep. Both teams tightened up defensively, leading to limited chances early on. Eight minutes in, Roanoke’s Jimmy O’Kane was penalized for slashing, giving Fayetteville a chance to extend their lead. But the Dawgs fought hard, even drawing a roughing penalty on the Marksmen during the kill, resulting in a brief power play for Roanoke that ultimately went scoreless.

As time dwindled, the Dawgs pulled their goalie with just under three minutes left, and the gamble paid off. Stephen Alvo capitalized on a rebound to bring Roanoke within one, sending a spark through the crowd. Head coach Dan Bremner made the bold call to pull the goalie again with under two minutes to go, and once more, it worked. Mac Jansen scored the equalizer, bringing the crowd of nearly 6,500 to their feet as the game headed to overtime.

Overtime: A Frenzied Finish

The energy in the Berglund Center was electric as the teams squared off in 3-on-3 overtime. Roanoke pressured Fayetteville relentlessly, but Ryan Kenny stood tall in goal, denying every chance. A holding penalty on Khristian Acosta gave the Dawgs a late power play, but Kenny’s heroics kept the Marksmen alive. He’d go on to deny every shot attempt during the power play in an absolutely beautiful display of goalkeeping. 

Time would eventually run out on both squads and with no winner after overtime, the game went to a shootout. Both goalies put on a clinic, but Fayetteville’s Ryan Nolan and Vitali Mikhailov found the net, while the Dawgs only had Gustav Muller hit the back of the net. Fayetteville would ultimately be the ones to emerge victorious with a 6-5 win in a thrilling conclusion. Roanoke would at least get one point in the standings for bringing it to a shootout, while the Marksmen will grab another 2 points for the win. 

Final Thoughts

The Dawgs have nothing to be ashamed of after this hard-fought battle. Rallying from a two-goal deficit in the final minutes showed their incredible determination and ability to perform under pressure. The late-game heroics from Stephen Alvo and Mac Jansen brought the Berglund Center to life and reminded fans why this team is so special. While the shootout loss stings, Roanoke walks away with a well-earned point against a tough rival, keeping them competitive in the standings.

Despite the effort, there are lessons to be learned. Defensive breakdowns and missed opportunities on special teams proved costly, and Ryan Kenny’s stellar performance in overtime and the shootout was a key factor in Fayetteville’s win. However, this game also showcased Roanoke’s resilience and their ability to fight back when the odds are stacked against them. With this experience under their belt and their passionate fanbase behind them, the Dawgs can use this as motivation to refine their play and come back stronger in their next matchup.