MONROE, LA - With first place in the Continental Division hanging in the balance, the Athens Rock Lobsters capped a four-goal third period to defeat the Monroe Moccasins 6–2 Friday night at the Monroe Civic Center.
Separated by just one point entering the weekend, both teams entered with the division at stake. With the loss, Monroe fell to 35-10-7-3-0, while Athens improved to 35-11-1-4-4. The loss locked the Moccasins into a first-round matchup against the Columbus River Dragons in the Commissioner’s Cup Playoffs, where Monroe will have home-ice advantage. Athens will face the Pee Dee Ice Cats.
Despite the final score, the game carried a playoff-like intensity throughout, with both teams trading momentum in a physical, high-energy atmosphere.
Athens struck early just 37 seconds into the game as Dustin Perillat opened the scoring. Monroe responded at 6:39 of the first period when Casey Gerstein tied the game, finishing a setup from Yianni Liarakos. The Rock Lobsters regained the lead at 13:38 on a goal from John Kaljian to take a 2–1 lead into the intermission.
After a scoreless second period, Monroe pulled even early in the third when Carlos Fornaris lasered a one-timer past Carter McPhail at 3:14, tying the game at 2–2. Athens responded just over a minute later as Jonathan Bartuccio-Pereira gave the Rock Lobsters a 3-2 lead at 4:37.
The visitors then broke the game open midway through the period, with Luke Croucher converting on the power play at 11:24 beforeGus Ford added another at 12:21 to extend the lead to 5–2. Jesse Lowell sealed the win with an empty-net goal at 17:39.
Athens controlled the third period offensively, despite being outshot 43-28. The win came with Athens missing several key players, including Garrett Milan, Eric Neilly, Malik Johnson, Filip Virgili, Daniil Glukharyov and Gleb Bandurkin.
Monroe, who entered the night at 2-6-3 against Athens this season and 0-2-2 at home against the Rock Lobsters, will get one final opportunity in the regular-season finale Saturday night at the Civic Center. The matchup will mark Game 56 before the post-season begins, with both teams closing out the regular season.
Round 1 playoff schedule vs. Columbus (best-of-three series):
Friday, April 17
Moccasins at River Dragons, 7:35pm. EDT
Saturday, April 18
River Dragons at Moccasins, 7:05pm. EDT
Sunday, April 19
River Dragons at Moccasins, time TBA (if necessary)
FPHL 
