'Catters go 2-1 against top two teams in Western Conference

Published on March 8, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Texas Wildcatters News Release


Beaumont, TX (March 8, 2004) – The Texas Wildcatters closed out the week with a two-game sweep of the San Diego Gulls after losing at Louisiana. On Wednesday, the IceGators won the 15th and final meeting with Texas 5-3. Rae Metz, John Campbell and Martin Masa scored for Texas as they pulled within one goal on three separate occasions but couldn't net the equalizer. The Wildcatters finished the year 2-13-0 against the top team in the Central Division.

On Saturday, Texas used a perfect performance from its specialty teams to knock off the San Diego Gulls 3-2 in overtime. The Wildcatters went three-for-three on the power play and killed off all four penalties. Lukas Smital, who returned to the lineup, gave the team a boost with a goal three minutes into the first period. Cory Morgan netted a pair of goals, including the game-winner with 38 seconds remaining in the extra session. Davis Parley stopped 38 of the 40 shots he faced to earn his 15th win of the season.

In Sunday's rematch, Texas evened the season series with a 5-4 shootout victory over the Gulls. Ryan Fultz became the second player in Wildcatters history to register a hat trick as he scored the team's first three goals of the game and added the shootout game-winner. Chris Taliercio picked up his first goal for Texas in regulation and Morgan chipped in the first goal for the Wildcatters in the opening round of the shootout. Parley kicked away 36 shots in regulation and overtime and stopped four of the five Gulls he faced in the shootout for his second straight win. Texas and San Diego each won two games of the four game the season series.

Player of the Week Nomination: Ryan Fultz became the second player in team history to score a hat trick, as he netted three goals in the game Sunday against San Diego. In the third round of the shootout, he also scored what provide to be the game winning goal. The Rochester, MI native, who is in his fourth pro season, earned his first professional hat trick. The 5'11", 200-pound forward has 13 points in 16 games with Texas.

Goaltender of the Week Nomination: Davis Parley stopped 122 of 133 shots he faced in three games this week, finishing 2-1-0. He won back-to-back games to improve to 16-22-2 in his rookie year. He is currently ranked second in the ECHL in saves with 1420 this season.

Wildcatters' schedule:

Wildcatters Record Against Opposition

Monday: Off Day

Tuesday: Practice @ 10:00 a.m.

Wednesday: Practice @ 10:00 a.m.

Thursday: Game @ Mississippi Sea Wolves, 6:35 p.m. (2-7-1)

Friday: Game @ Columbus Cottonmouths, 6:30 p.m. (1-0-1)

Saturday: Game @ Columbus Cottonmouths, 6:30p.m. (1-0-1)

Sunday: Travel Day

Team Leaders:

Goals – John Snowden and Martin Masa (18)

Assists – Cory Morgan (30)

Points - Cory Morgan (46)

Penalty Minutes – Ashlee Langdone (228)

Power Play Goals – Martin Masa (7)

+/- – Aaron MacInnis (+9)

Wins – Davis Parley (16)

Goals Against Average – Mark Scally (3.06)

Save Percentage – Mark Scally (92.8%)

Power Play – 14.2% 39 for 278 (24th in ECHL)

Penalty Kill – 75.5% 247 for 327 (31st in ECHL)

Wildcatters Weekly: Join us tonight at The West Bar & Grill from 6:00-7:00 p.m. for "Wildcatters Weekly" live on News Radio Fox 1380. This is a great opportunity for fans to meet forward Adam Stefishen and defensemen Mark Jackson, as well as Head Coach Robert Dirk. Those in attendance are encouraged to ask questions and participate during the show.

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