NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TX – The Wichita Falls Warriors (13-8-1-3) hit the road on Saturday to face-off with the Lone Star Brahmas (20-10-1-0) once again, in search for their seventh straight win. In the season series with the Brahmas, both teams entered the night with a head to head record of (3-3-0-0). Neither team in the matchup have won back to back games during the series either, but the Warriors had the chance to do that at the NYTEX Sports Centre after topping the Brahmas 4-3 back on February 5th.
The first two periods were goaltender battles as Wichita Falls Ryan Ullan and Lone Stars Graham Burke traded big save after big save. Both teams went empty handed on the man advantages in the first 40 minutes. Wichita Falls was 0/3 and Lone Star was 0/2 as the defenses and goaltenders continued to shine. The Warriors were outshot 21-17 heading into the third period in a scoreless tie.
The Brahmas would put the pressure on early in the third period but for the moment the Warriors were able to keep the door shut. However, the Brahmas would strike first in the contest 3:03 into the final frame of regulation and the Warriors would find themselves trailing 1-0. The Warriors would then head to their fourth power play of the game midway through the third and have a chance to tie the game. The Warriors would struggle to get things going on the man advantage and a turnover would give the Brahmas a 2-on-1 short-handed chance. Warriors goaltender Ryan Ullan would dive across his crease to make a spectacular glove save to rob Lone Star of the short-handed goal that would have put the Warriors behind by two goals. That save turned out to be a big turning point as Hunter Jones (2) snapped a wrist shot from the top of the left-wing circle 12:12 into the period to tie the game at 1-1. For Jones it was his second goal of the season and both goal coming inside the NYTEX Sports Centre. The game would not remain tied for long as on a delayed penalty on the Brahmas, Warriors defenseman Drake Usher (8) would put the puck on net and forward Cade Lemmer (3) would put the rebound home to give the Warriors the lead at 3-2 with just over 6 minutes remaining in the game. The Brahmas would pull Burke and get the extra attacker on the ice with 1:30 left, but the Warriors would keep the out of the net and secure their seventh straight win with a 2-1 come from behind road victory over Lone Star and earn their 30th point of the season.
Ryan Ullan (2-3-0-0) recorded the win for Wichita Falls. He recorded 31 saves on 32 shots faced. Graham Burke (12-7-0-0) recorded the loss for Lone Star. He recorded 29 saves on 31 shots faced.
Up next, the Warriors return home on Friday, February 19th and look to make it eight straight when they host the Amarillo Bulls. Puck drop is at 7:05 PM at the Kay Yeager Coliseum.
