WICHITA FALLS, TX – The Wichita Falls Warriors (19-9-1-4) looked to win back to back games as the they returned home to the Kay Yeager Coliseum to host the Amarillo Bulls (20-10-2-3). The Warriors this season are 3-1-0-1 against the bulls this season and looked to continue their success against the Bulls on Friday night.
The Warriors are 10-3 when scoring first in their last 13 games. However, on Friday night it was the Bulls who would strike first and take a 1-0 just 5:34 into the opening frame. Although the Warriors did not score first, they would waste no time answering back, as Cole Teleki (2) would tie the game 7:03 in on a one-time blast from the left point. The two sides would trade chances back and forth in what felt like a tennis match but neither side would find the back of the net the rest of the first period or in the second period. The game would quickly make its way to the third period with the two South Division foes tied at 1-1.
In the third period it would be Amarillo breaking the long standing tied score as the Bulls captain Nick Martino (8) found the back of the net 8:16 into the final frame of regulation. The Warriors would have chance after chance in the third to try to tie it, but Amarillo goaltender Hunter Garvey was stopping everything the Warriors threw his way. The Warriors would finally break through 17:27 into the period as Carter Korpi (14) would score his team leading 14th goal of the season on the rebound to tie the game 2-2 late and force overtime giving the Warriors a point for the moment.
Neither team found the back of the net in overtime so the game would head to a shootout to determine a winner. The first three rounds would go to the goaltenders as all six skaters failed to score for either side so we would go to the extra rounds. In the fourth round, Warriors goaltender Ryan Ullan would stay perfect in the shootout and make his fourth stop giving the Warriors a chance to win it with a goal on the other end. Drake Usher would get the call off of the bench and the Air Force commit defenseman would take it to the right-wing circle and snap a shot just inside the far post to give the Warriors a 3-2 win in the shootout. Wichita Falls got the extra point and cut the deficit in the standings with Amarillo down to just three points.
Ryan Ullan (4-3-0-2) recorded the win for Wichita Falls. He recorded 22 saves on 24 shots faced. Hunter Garvey (1-1-0-3) recorded the loss for Amarillo. He recorded 36 saves on 38 shots faced.
Next up, the Warriors return home for Wizard’s Night on Saturday with an opportunity to sweep the Bulls. Puck drop is set for 7:05 PM at the Kay Yeager Coliseum.
