Glads Stay Perfect with 2–1 Win Over Stingrays

The Atlanta Gladiators extended their perfect start to the 2025–26 season with a 2–1 victory over the South Carolina Stingrays on Sunday afternoon at Gas South Arena. After a scoreless battle through two periods, the Gladiators came alive in the third — including a shorthanded goal that ignited the home crowd.

Fresh off a 4–2 win against the Savannah Ghost Pirates the night before, the Gladiators entered Sunday’s matchup determined to keep their streak alive. Today marked the 241st all-time meeting between Atlanta and South Carolina, and the first of this season. T.J. Semptimphelter got the start in net for Atlanta, making his first appearance since a shutout win in Florida against the Everblades. On the other side, Mitchell Gibson started in goal for the Stingrays.

The first period was a tight, back-and-forth affair with neither team finding the back of the net. The Gladiators had an early opportunity on the power play when Reilly Webb took a tripping minor, but South Carolina held firm. Atlanta’s penalty kill continued to shine midway through the period after Ryan Francis was called for tripping at 10:49. While the period ended scoreless, the Gladiators outshot the Stingrays 11–6, showing solid offensive pressure and defensive discipline.

The second period mirrored the first, with both teams creating chances but unable to capitalize. Atlanta went on the penalty kill early after Isak Walther was sent off at 4:17, and later had an extended power play when Dean Lokus and Connor Moore both headed to the box for roughing. The Gladiators had a 5-on-3 advantage for over a minute but couldn’t solve Gibson. Late in the frame, Mike McNamee made a critical defensive play — clearing the puck from the crease after a sprawling save by Semptimphelter — to preserve the 0–0 tie heading into the third.

The third period opened with a burst of energy. Just 20 seconds in, Carson Denomie netted his first goal of the season, shorthanded, off a perfect setup from Joey Cipollone. Seconds later, Cipollone struck again — this time finding the back of the net himself, assisted by Mike McNamee, to make it 2–0 Atlanta.

The Stingrays pulled Gibson with two minutes remaining to add an extra attacker, and the move paid off as they broke Semptimphelter’s shutout bid with a late goal. But the Gladiators held strong in the closing moments to secure the win and remain undefeated on the season.

With the victory, Atlanta continues its early-season dominance, powered by elite goaltending, strong defensive play, and timely special teams.

The Gladiators are back in action on Wednesday, November 5th at 10:30 a.m., when they host the Greenville Swamp Rabbits for the team’s first School Day Game of the season!