Three-Goal Third for Bulls Proves Wildcats Downfall
December 31, 2014 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wichita Falls Wildcats News Release
AMARILLO, Texas - Despite 46 shots on goal and an impressive effort from the penalty kill, the Wichita Falls Wildcats stumbled to a 6-3 defeat against the Amarillo Bulls at the Amarillo Civic Center on Wednesday night.
Nick Farmer, Austin Beaulieu and Kevin Charyszyn all tallied goals for Wichita Falls in the loss, while Erich Jaeger, Matt Koch, Colin Staub and Cam Knight added helpers in the cause.
The Bulls found the net first, as Nick Le Sage cleaned up a rebound just 1:49 into the contest, but the 'Cats responded well and found an equalizer on the power play.
After Koch and Jaeger played catch along the blue line, Jaeger moved the puck down low to Farmer at the bottom of the left-wing circle. Farmer settled and released a quick shot that beat Jacob Weatherly top-shelf to make it 1-1 on his eighth goal of the season.
The level score was short-lived however, as Amarillo quickly capitalized on a pair of miscues by the Wildcats. First, Will Harrison buried a shot from the slot following a defensive-zone turnover below the goal line by the red-and-black, before AJ Duggan scored from an acute angle to make it 3-1 and chase David Zevnik.
Wichita Falls peppered the Amarillo net with 23 shots on goal in the middle frame, but Weatherly stood on his head to turn all efforts aside, including a breakaway save on Staub and follow up attempt by Beaulieu, to keep the scoreline at 3-1 in favor of the Bulls.
The 'Cats started the third period in ideal fashion, with Beaulieu cutting the deficit to one on his 14th goal of the season, but that was as close as the red-and-black would come.
The Bulls then scored three goals in the span for 4:01 to push the score line to 6-2, as Luke Novak finished off a two-on-none rush and Harrison potted his second of the night on the power play, before Joe Leonidas capped off the spurt with a wrister to the top corner.
Charyszyn added a consolation tally for Wichita Falls at the 18:00 mark, tapping home a loose puck for his team-leading 16th goal of the season to make it 6-3, which is how the contest ended.
The Wildcats are back in action when they return to Amarillo on Friday, Jan. 2 for the second of four-straight meetings between the two squads. Fans that cannot make it to the game can follow all the action on FASTHockey.com, or by tuning into an audio-only broadcast provided via YouTube.
Single-game tickets for the 2014-15 Wildcats season are on sale now at the Kay Yeager Coliseum box office. Stay updated on the latest team news and notes by connecting with the Wildcats on Facebook (WFWildcats), Twitter (@WFWildcats), Instagram (WFWildcats) and on YouTube (Wichita Falls Wildcats).
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North American Hockey League Stories from December 31, 2014
- Missed Chances Cost Cats to Close 2014 - Bismarck Bobcats
- Chill Spoil Austin's New Years Party - Austin Bruins
- Three-Goal Third for Bulls Proves Wildcats Downfall - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Tomahawks Earn 3-1 New Year's Eve Win - Johnstown Tomahawks
- Mid-Season Report: Midwest and North Divisions - NAHL
- Johnstown Tomahawks Announce Change for January 3 Game - Johnstown Tomahawks
- Jaquay's Pair and NAHL Firsts Boost Keystone over Kenai - Keystone Ice Miners
- Out with a Bang - Minot Minotauros
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