WICHITA FALLS, TX – The Wichita Falls Warriors (16-8-1-3) returned home to the Kay Yeager Coliseum on Friday night to host the Odessa Jackalopes (8-19-2-2) in search of their tenth straight win.
It was another fast start for the Warriors as off of a turnover in the offensive zone, Drew Vieten (13) found Cade Lemmer (4) alone in front who beat Cooper Black on the backhand to put Wichita Falls up 1-0 just 4:19 in to the first. The Warriors would have several other chances including a short 5-on-3 but the Warriors would not be able to capitalize and the lead would stay at one goal. The Jackalopes would have a power play of their own in the last minute of the period and ring a shot off the post and out and the Warriors would hang on to the one goal lead to the first intermission. The Warriors outshot the Jackalopes 18-2 in the first period.
In the second period, the Warriors pressure would become too much for Odessa. The Warriors would find the back of the net on a bounce off a Jackalope in front as Carter Korpi (11) was pressing the play towards the front of the net. Then just two minutes later, off a great pass from Jackson Salt (5) to find William Lawson-Body (3) who put a shot right under the crossbar to make it 3-0 Wichita Falls quickly into the second period. The Warriors outshot the Jackalopes 22-6 in the second period. Warriors goaltender Owen Bartoszkiewicz was perfect through two periods, stopping all 14 shots he faced. The Warriors would take a 3-0 lead to the third period.
In the third period the first ten minutes got off to a slow start as the Warriors were content to cycle the puck around and control the play. Things would start to heat up between the benches, as Odessa had a late hit on Lawson-Body while Odessa’s Head Coach Jason Fortier and Warriors Head Coach Garrett Roth met and exchanged words and a few shoves were thrown by Fortier between the benches, and the two head coaches were ejected from the game. After that the Warriors would pile on a couple more goals. Drew Vieten (9) would find the back of the net in front on the power play to make it 4-0. Then, Carter Korpi (12) would score his second of the night and his team leading 12th goal of the season to make it 5-0 Wichita Falls. Owen Bartoszkiewicz would lose his shutout when Odessa found the back of the net 18:54 into the third to make it 5-1 Wichita Falls. The Warriors would win by that final 5-1 and win their tenth straight win. The Warriors outshot Odessa 51-17 in the win.
Owen Bartoszkiewicz (13-5-1-2) recorded the win for Wichita Falls. He recorded 16 saves on 17 shots faced. Cooper Black (1-4-0-1) recorded the loss for Odessa. He recorded 46 saves on 51 shots faced.
Next up, the Warriors will look to set the NAHL record for longest winning streak by a team in their inaugural season with 11 straight. Wichita Falls faces off with Odessa again on Saturday night at the Kay Yeager Coliseum. Puck drop is set at 7:05 PM.
