SHREVEPORT, LA – The Wichita Falls Warriors (6-7-1-2) were looking to even up the weekend series with the Shreveport Mudbugs (13-2-1-1) on Saturday and head home with two points.
In the first period the two teams would trade chances back and forth. The shots on goal in the first period favored Shreveport by one shot 15-14. The Warriors would have three power plays in the first period but would go empty handed on the man advantage. The goaltenders Cole Hudson for Shreveport and Owen Bartoszkiewicz would be perfect through the first 20 minutes and the game would be scoreless heading into the second period.
Just like the night before, the Mudbugs would hit their stride in the second period. The Mudbugs would break the scoreless tie 2:15 into the second. They would then add another to take a 2-0 lead 14:14 into the period. The Mudbugs weren’t done just yet in the period either. Just over two minutes later, the Mudbugs would score their third straight of the period and take a 3-0 lead to the third period. The Warriors would look to regroup in the locker room during the intermission.
It’s not known what Warriors Head Coach Garrett Roth said to his team during the second intermission, but whatever it was, it worked because the Warriors would quickly flip the switch in the third period. In his first game back from suspension, Drew Vieten (5) would put the Warriors on the board 31 seconds into the final frame. Then, two minutes later, Aidan Torres (1) would bury the loose rebound for his first career North American Hockey League goal and the deficit was cut to just one goal. The one goal deficit did not last long as Alex Walker (3) would find a loose rebound of his own on the power play and 4:08 into the third we had a tied game 3-3. At this point in the period the Warriors had dominated and had hushed the Mudbugs home crowd. However, the Mudbugs would fight back and regain the lead 4-3 at the midway point 10:20 into the period. The Mudbugs would then ring one off the crossbar shortly after that attempting to extend their lead to two goals late. Gio Procopio (9) would find Matt Weber (7) all alone behind the Warriors defense and Weber would put it past Bartoszkiewicz on the left pad side to give the Mudbugs a 5-3 lead with under five minutes remaining in the game. The Warriors would catch a break at the perfect time as Shreveport would be caught with too many men on the ice 16:18 into the third. Wichita Falls would take advantage as Ryan Robinson (5) would continue his hot streak and cut the Mudbug lead back to one at 5-4 with just over two minutes remaining. Robinson has now scored 4 goals in his last 5 games. The Warriors were in good position for a chance to pull Bartoszkiewicz and try to tie the game. However, Wichita Falls would take a penalty and put the Mudbugs on the power play with 2:20 remaining in the game with the Warriors trailing 5-4. The Warriors would get the puck into the offensive zone and pull Bartoszkiewicz with under a minute remaining but could not get a puck on net to test Hudson. The Warriors would fall by a final of 5-4 after a hard fought third period. The Warriors drop both games in the weekend series at Shreveport and have now lost their last three games.
Cole Hudson (10-1-1-1) recorded the win for Shreveport. He recorded 32 saves on 36 shots faced. Owen Bartoszkiewicz (5-4-1-1) recorded the loss for Wichita Falls. He recorded 34 saves on 39 shots faced.
Up next, the Warriors head back home to the Kay Yeager Coliseum to host the Amarillo Bulls for the first time this season on Friday, January 15th. Puck drop is set for 7:05 pm.
