The Atlanta Gladiators battled back all night, but a late goal proved to be the difference as they fell 4-3 to the South Carolina Stingrays in a Game 4 playoff thriller at Gas South Arena.
With the series intensifying, Atlanta showed urgency early. The Gladiators struck first, setting the tone on home ice as they looked to even the series. But South Carolina answered before the end of the opening period, sending the game into intermission tied 1-1 after a fast-paced, physical start.
The Stingrays took control in the second period, capitalizing on key opportunities to grab a 2-1 lead. Atlanta had its chances, with pushes from players like Joey Cipollone, Cody Sylvester, and Carson Denomie, but couldn’t break through again before the end of the frame.
In the third period, the game opened up—and so did the scoring.
Atlanta responded with a crucial equalizer to tie things at 2-2, bringing life back into the building. The Stingrays quickly countered to regain the lead, but the Gladiators refused to go away. Another big moment came late as Atlanta found the back of the net again, evening the score at 3-3 in the final minutes and setting up a dramatic finish.
With overtime looming, South Carolina delivered the final blow, scoring late in regulation to secure the 4-3 win and silence the home crowd.
Despite the loss, the Gladiators showed resilience, battling back multiple times behind efforts from key contributors including Cipollone, Sylvester, Denomie, and Alex Young. Goaltender T.J. Semptimphelter made several key stops to keep Atlanta within reach, but the late goal proved too much to overcome.
Now facing a must-win scenario, the Gladiators head into Game 5 with their season on the line as the series shifts back to South Carolina.
