Premier Mavs Split Home Opener Weekend with Red River
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus Mavericks’ Premier team got its first taste of adversity this weekend, and responded the next night.
The Mavericks split their home-opening weekend with the Red River Spartans. They fell 4-2 on Friday afternoon at OhioHealth Ice Haus, then bounced back with a 4-3 win on Saturday night at OhioHealth Chiller North. The split moves Columbus to 5-1-1 on the season.
Friday: Red River Spartans 4, Mavericks 2
The Mavericks controlled the shot chart but couldn’t solve Red River goaltender Benjamin Knutson. He made 47 saves on 49 shots to hand Columbus its first regulation loss of the season.
After a scoreless first period, Logan Almeida put the Spartans ahead in the second, assisted by Marshall McMurtry. Hudson Gerber answered for the Mavericks, set up by Benjamin Marquardt. But McMurtry restored Red River’s lead with just 5.7 seconds left in the period, assisted by Naythan Richer.
The Spartans pulled away early in the third. Benjamin LeVan and Harold Segars IV scored to make it 4-1, with Ilja Kozlovs assisting on Segars’ goal. Alan Faulkner III got one back for Columbus, assisted by AJ Alan Faulkner Jr. and Simon Sochor, but the Mavericks couldn’t get any closer.
Columbus outshot Red River 49-14 but went scoreless on five power-play opportunities. Robert Cook made 12 saves in net for the Mavericks.
Saturday: Mavericks 4, Red River Spartans 3
Sam Pies made sure the Mavericks didn’t drop two in a row. He had a goal and three assists, figuring in all four Columbus goals.
Pies opened the scoring on a first-period power play, assisted by Marquardt and Timothy Boyd Jr. Jakub Vesely doubled the lead later in the period, with assists from Gerber and Pies.
Dylan Harris and Parker Arlet also scored for Columbus. Pies assisted on both, with Owen Abraham assisting on Harris’ goal and Boyd on Arlet’s. Red River got goals from Kozlovs, Daniel Rowley and Bailey Weisman, but the Mavericks held on for the one-goal win. Liem Nguyen was in net for Columbus.
Weekend Leaders
Sam Pies: 1 goal, 3 assists, 4 points
Hudson Gerber: 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points
Benjamin Marquardt: 2 assists, 2 points
Timothy Boyd Jr.: 2 assists, 2 points
Next up
The Mavericks stay home next weekend for a rematch with the Chicago Crush. That’s the team that handed Columbus its shootout loss at the Chicago Showcase. The teams meet at OhioHealth Chiller North on Friday, Oct. 16, and Saturday, Oct. 17. Tickets are available at columbusmavericks.com/fan-zone/tickets, and both games will stream on USPHL+ through Black Bear Sports.