Davidson's first-career goal not enough for Wildcats as IceRays salvage weekend split
November 30, 2013 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wichita Falls Wildcats News Release
WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Hogan Davidson scored his first-career goal, and Josh Haverstrom picked up his sixth goal of the season, but the Wichita Falls Wildcats (15-9-3) fell to the Corpus Christi IceRays 4-2 at the Kay Yeager Coliseum on Saturday night.
Will Vosejpka, Jake Townsend and Matt Koch each had an assist, while Chase Munroe made the start in net, recording 16 saves.
Just as they did on Friday, the Wildcats were the first to find the back of the net. Vosejpka pulled the puck free in the offensive zone on the right-wing wall and worked it behind the net. He then fed a perfect pass to an onrushing Davidson in the slot, and Davidson smashed it home at the 10:17 mark.
The IceRays responded on the power play less than three minutes later, as Wes Michaud found the top corner behind Munroe, and the teams headed into the break tied 1-1.
Corpus Christi took the lead at the 7:24 mark of the second period, and again it was Michaud who scored, but the Wildcats would level the affair late in the middle frame.
Townsend took the puck at the right point and played a pass across the blue line to Koch. With traffic in front of the net, Koch picked a beautiful pass and found Haverstrom unmarked at the right post. Haverstrom took the pass on his backhand and then stuffed it under a sprawling Forbes Ploszaj to make it 2-2 at 18:09 of the second.
The IceRays took the lead for good 4:16 into the final frame. With the Wildcats on the power play, a turnover at the blue line allowed Jake Durflinger to go on a breakaway, which he finished with a backhander between the legs of Munroe.
It almost got worse for Wichita Falls, as Tony Roisum was hauled down on another clean break less than 30 seconds later to earn an IceRays penalty shot, but Munroe kept his effort out.
The Wildcats mounted a late-period flurry in an attempt to tie the contest, and almost did when Andrew Kerr's wrist shot through traffic caught iron, but that was as close as they would come.
Martin Hojbjerg added an empty-net goal to put a cap on the 4-2 win for the IceRays. The contest marked the first regulation loss of the season for Wichita Falls when scoring first.
The Wildcats are back in action on Friday, Dec. 6, when they head to the Rio Grande Valley to take on the Killer Bees. Coverage will be available on FASTHockey.com, and an audio-only broadcast will be available via ustream.com. Puck drop is slated for 7 p.m.
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