Odessa, TX – The Wichita Falls Warriors (26-17-1-6) traveled to the Ector County Coliseum for their last trip to Odessa against the Odessa Jackalopes(12-32-3-3). The Warriors were able to grab two crucial points on their Friday night overtime victory.
It was a strong first period for the Warriors. With fifteen shots on net in the first period, the Warriors were able to grab an early 1-0 lead on the power play when Joseph Harguindeguy (15) scored with one second remaining on the man advantage. The Warriors played a defensive battle in the 1st and didn’t allow many Grade A chances for the Jackalopes. Later in the period Thomas Weis (18) gave the Warriors a nice 2-0 lead and cushion late in the period. After twenty minutes of play, the Warriors had a bode of confidence and were up 2-0.
A second period that saw twenty two total shots from both teams, was a scoreless period. After forty minutes the Warriors had still led 2-0 but were faced with some Odessa push back as their chances became more frequent. The Jackalopes still couldn’t find the back of the net but amped up their physicality in the period which led to the momentum shift towards the end of the period and in the favor of the Jacks.
In a third period that had seemed like a destined win for the Warriors, the Jackalopes had their mind set on shifting the momentum even more than they already had done in the second period. As the period had begun, the Warriors were holding a 2-0 lead until Warriors forward Hunter Jones would take a five minute major spearing penalty that would turn into a game misconduct for Jones. The Jacks power play unit would take advantage two minutes into the major call as Ben Doherty (7) would grab the power play goal and cut the lead to 2-1. The Warriors would kill off the rest of the major and in turn get a power play of their own but would not be able to capitalize. Ten minutes later, Joey Musa (8) would bury a one-timer from Nate Boak (11) past Bartoszkiewicz and tie the game up at 2-2 on the power play after the Warriors were faced with two many men on the ice penalty. We would head to an overtime period, and just 1:38 into the overtime stint, Owen Baumgartner (6) would grab the game winning goal and give the Warriors a 3-2 Victory and gaining the team two crucial points. Baumgartner unassisted scored his second goal in just two games.
Owen Bartoszkiewicz (20-12-1-3) recorded the win for Wichita Falls. He recorded 31 saves on 33 shots faced. Cooper Black (4-7-0-1) recorded the loss for Odessa. He recorded 29 saves on 32 shots faced.
