Gladiators Close Road Trip with Hard-Fought 2–1 Loss in Jacksonville

Atlanta Gladiators | Photo: Atlanta Gladiators

The Atlanta Gladiators wrapped up their four-game road swing on Saturday night with a tight 2–1 loss to the Jacksonville Icemen at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.

Coming off a tough 1–0 defeat in North Charleston the night before, the Gladiators turned again to T.J. Semptimphelter, who earned his second straight start after a strong 21-save performance against South Carolina. Cameron Rowe got the nod for Jacksonville.

Cipollone Strikes Early

Atlanta came out energized, controlling possession and generating early pressure. Just over five minutes into the opening period, their momentum turned into the game’s first goal. Joey Cipollone intercepted a pass at center ice, charged the net, and after his initial shot was stopped, battled through traffic to bury his own rebound for his third goal of the season.

The Gladiators earned two power-play opportunities in the first but couldn’t extend their lead. They carried a 1–0 advantage into intermission while outshooting Jacksonville 9–3.

Icemen Answer Back

Jacksonville found life in the second period. At 4:06, Ryan Pitoscia ripped a far-side shot from the right circle, scoring his first professional goal to even the game 1–1.

Both teams had power-play chances in the frame—three for Jacksonville and one for Atlanta—but neither side could convert. After forty minutes, the game remained deadlocked, with Atlanta holding a 14–11 edge in shots.

Jacksonville Finds the Winner

The decisive moment came early in the third. Semptimphelter made an incredible left-to-right diving save to rob Dalton Duhart moments before the Icemen struck. But at 3:33, Duhart got his redemption, knocking home a rebound to give Jacksonville a 2–1 lead.

Atlanta pushed hard in the final minutes, but Rowe stood tall, turning away all 25 shots he faced except one. Semptimphelter delivered another stellar outing with 23 saves on 25 shots, but the Icemen held firm to secure the win.

Atlanta finished the night 0-for-3 on the power play and a perfect 4-for-4 on the penalty kill.

Looking Ahead

The Gladiators drop to 8–3 on the season and finish their road trip with a 2–2 split. They now return home for a special night at Gas South Arena as they host Greenville for Glads Fight Cancer Night on Saturday.