A Thrilling 6-5 Victory for Roanoke (3-28-25)

By: Joey Raymond 

Headline Photo Credit: Katie Raymond-LMS Network

Roanoke, VA –The Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs return home with a mission: to snap their recent cold streak and regain momentum before the playoffs. After a dominant stretch in February and early March, where they racked up 13 consecutive games with three or more goals, the Dawgs have struggled offensively in their last five outings. With just six goals scored in that span and their first three-game pointless streak since November, Roanoke is in desperate need of a bounce-back performance. Fortunately, they’ll have a chance to do just that with a three-game homestand at the Berglund Center, starting with a crucial matchup against the Macon Mayhem.

Macon enters this contest as a team on the rise, fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive under the guidance of new head coach Dave Pszenyczny. The Mayhem have undergone a major overhaul, bringing in veteran leadership behind the bench and making key roster moves to reshape their squad. With only three players remaining from the team that last defeated Roanoke in February 2023, this Mayhem roster looks entirely different—but their urgency remains the same. Led by top scorer Jake Goldowski and midseason acquisition Zack Nazzarett, Macon is hungry to make a statement and claw their way into the postseason picture.

First Period

This one wasted no time getting heated. The puck barely hit the ice before gloves were off and fists were flying. Roanoke’s John MacDonald squared up against Macon’s Jake Maynard in what looked like a bit of unfinished business from their last meeting—when Macon delivered a dirty hit on CJ Valerian. Both players were handed five-minute majors, setting the tone for what was bound to be a physical battle.

The Dawgs struck first with 12:37 left in the period, as Nick Ford found the back of the net to put Roanoke up 1-0. However, the celebration was short-lived, as Ford left the game immediately after with an apparent injury. Just moments later, Roanoke found themselves shorthanded when Bryce Martin was called for slashing. The Dawgs held strong on the penalty kill, but Martin was sent back to the box with just over four minutes remaining—this time for cross-checking.

As the Dawgs battled through another penalty kill, Macon gave them a golden opportunity. On a breakaway chance, Roanoke drew an interference call, earning a penalty shot. The Dawgs couldn’t convert, but just seven seconds after returning to full strength, Macon took another penalty—this time for tripping. That handed Roanoke a power play to close out the period, but despite the advantage, they carried just a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

Second Period

The second frame opened with more penalty trouble for Macon, as Jake Goldowski was sent off for high-sticking four minutes in. The Mayhem managed to kill the penalty, but as soon as they got back to full strength, they were whistled for tripping—giving Roanoke another chance on the power play. This time, the Dawgs made them pay. Austen Swankler found open space and ripped a laser past the goalie, doubling Roanoke’s lead to 2-0. Before the crowd even had a chance to settle, the Dawgs struck again—this time with John MacDonald lighting the lamp to push the advantage to 3-0. The Berglund Center was rocking, but Macon wasn’t ready to roll over.

With 6:21 left in the period, Zack Nazzarett finally put the Mayhem on the board, sneaking a shot past Austin Roudebush to cut the deficit to 3-1. Less than two minutes later, Macon capitalized on a two-on-one rush, as Goldowski found the net to make it a one-goal game. The energy in the arena shifted as Roanoke’s commanding lead had all but evaporated.

The Dawgs, however, weren’t about to let momentum slip away. Just two minutes later, Mac Jansen answered back with a goal of his own, restoring Roanoke’s cushion at 4-2. But Macon wasn’t done yet. The Mayhem came flying down the ice and responded almost immediately, with Dan Winslow burying a shot to make it 4-3. It was a wild, back-and-forth battle, with neither team willing to back down. After all the fireworks, the period finally slowed down in the closing minutes. Roanoke held onto their slim 4-3 lead as they headed into what was shaping up to be an intense third period.

Third Period

The final frame started slow, with both teams feeling each other out. But it wouldn’t take long for the Dawgs to break through. Tommy Munichello found some open space and fired a rocket into the back of the net, extending Roanoke’s lead to 5-3. Then, things got heated. At 14:14, a scuffle behind the net sent Roanoke’s Billy Roche into a fury. He launched himself at Macon’s Justin Kelley, slamming him into the ice and dropping the gloves in an all-out brawl. Once the dust settled, Roche was hit with two roughing minors, while Kelley received just one—giving Macon a two-minute power play. The Dawgs successfully killed off the penalty, but tensions remained high.

Moments later, Macon’s Frank Trazzera retaliated with an ugly roughing penalty, dragging a Roanoke player to the ice by his neck—clearly payback for Roche’s earlier actions. The Mayhem killed the ensuing penalty without issue, and play resumed with the Dawgs holding onto their two-goal lead. With just over eight minutes left, Roanoke’s Daniel Chladek took a high-sticking penalty, putting Macon back on the power play. The Dawgs did well to kill off most of it, but just as time expired, Michael Krupinski found a gap under Roudebush and buried the puck, cutting the deficit to 5-4.

Macon wasn’t done yet. Just a few minutes later, Parker Allison struck again, tying the game at 5-5 and silencing the Berglund Center crowd. The Mayhem’s resilience was on full display, clawing their way back from multiple deficits to even things up. With just over two minutes remaining, tempers flared once more. A missed Roanoke opportunity turned into another scrum between the two teams, but the officials let them play, opting not to issue any penalties. Then, with 1:10 left, Macon took a costly penalty, giving Roanoke a crucial late power play. But despite the man advantage, time ran out on both squads, sending this wild showdown into overtime.

Overtime

Roanoke started the extra frame on the power play, but Macon held strong, successfully killing it off. The next several minutes saw frantic back-and-forth action, with neither team able to break through. The first stoppage didn’t come until just over 1:30, as both sides battled for possession. The puck continued to bounce between zones until, with just 30 seconds left, Roanoke finally gained control. Then, with 12.2 seconds remaining, the moment of the night arrived. Joe Widmar assisted Stephen Alvo who unleashed a miracle shot that found the back of the net, sending the Berglund Center into a frenzy and sealing a thrilling 6-5 victory for Roanoke. What a game. What a battle. And what a way to finish.

Final Thoughts

In a game filled with non-stop action, fierce physicality, and dramatic momentum swings, Roanoke and Macon delivered an absolute thriller at the Berglund Center. From the opening puck drop—when fists started flying—to a wild back-and-forth battle that saw both teams trading blows on the scoreboard and in the scrums, this one had everything. The Dawgs built multiple leads, but the resilient Mayhem refused to go away, forcing overtime with a late surge. In the end, it was Joe Widmar who played hero, burying the game-winning goal with just 12.2 seconds left in overtime to give Roanoke a thrilling 6-5 victory. And the best part? These two teams go at it again tomorrow night, setting the stage for another must-watch showdown.