'Cats Close First Half with Sweep of Wild
Published on December 21, 2014 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wichita Falls Wildcats News Release
WENATCHEE, Wash. - The Wichita Falls Wildcats picked up their sixth-consecutive win on Saturday night, claiming a 3-1 victory over the Wenatchee Wild at the Toyota Town Center to complete the weekend sweep.
Colin Staub proved to be an offensive catalyst with a goal and an assist, while Austin Beaulieu and Johnny Lazarus also found the net for Wichita Falls. Konstantin Chernyuk, Tommy Apap, Jake Townsend and Cam Knight each tallied an assist, while Austin Shaw made 26 saves to earn his 12th win of the season. Shaw also notched an assist on Staub's goal, his first-career point.
Wenatchee started the contest by unleashing a barrage of shots on Shaw's cage, but the 'Cats withstood the early pressure without giving up a goal, before scoring twice late in the period to take the lead.
The first marker came at the end of a long spell in the offensive zone. With the puck on his stick at the point, Chernyuk played a slap-pass to Lazarus at the right post, who turned it home for his fourth goal of the season to open the scoring.
The Wildcats then doubled their edge less than 90 seconds later after a nice entry rush by Apap. The first-year center danced around a defenseman and skated into space in the left circle. He pump-faked on a shot, before sliding a pass to Beaulieu trailing on the right wing. Beaulieu took the pass cleanly and made no mistake on his shot, roofing it for his 13th tally of the season. In the second, both sides enjoyed multiple lengthy spells in the offensive zone, but both Shaw and Zach Quinn in the Wild net made numerous strong saves to keep the score at 2-0 in favor of Wichita Falls.
Wenatchee cut the Wildcats' lead in half at the 7:09 mark of the third period, as Jake Ahlgren buried a shot from the slot to make it 2-1, but just as in Friday's contest, the 'Cats stood strong against the ensuing barrage.
In the waning moments of the contest, and with the Wenatchee net vacated for an extra attacker, a shot from the circle was turned aside by Shaw with Knight picking up the rebound behind the net. Knight played it ahead to Staub, who floated the puck the length of the ice, where it nestled into the empty net to make it 3-1 and ice the affair.
North American Hockey League Stories from December 21, 2014
- Wilderness Move into 1st Place with Sweep - Minnesota Wilderness
- Jingle Bell Rock - Minot Minotauros
- Amarillo Bulls Hang on to Beat Lone Star 3-2 - Amarillo Bulls
- Late Surge Pushes Bobcats Past Wings 6-4 - Bismarck Bobcats
- Ice Miners Outlast Tomahawks in 20 Round Shootout - Keystone Ice Miners
- 'Cats Close First Half with Sweep of Wild - Wichita Falls Wildcats
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
