WICHITA FALLS, TX – Mac Olson scored with just 40.5 seconds remaining in the third period as the Corpus Christi IceRays fell to the Wichita Falls Wildcats, 3-2, at the Kay Yeager Coliseum on Friday night. The win moves Wichita Falls to 16-12-3 (35 points) overall while the loss drops Corpus Christi to 13-16-2 (28 points). The game was the 12th and final meeting of the season between the two sides.
Colton Saucerman and Sam Cheraso tallied for Corpus Christi in the defeat.
Corpus Christi scored the only goal of the first period as Saucerman (2) slapped a hard shot from the point on the power play past Eric Garavaglia at the 12:46 mark to give the IceRays a 1-0 lead. Jordan Miller and Peter Stloukal assisted on the tally. Brandon Marshall won a fight against Sean Keane late in the first period. Shots were 8-6 in favor of Corpus Christi.
The second period was marred by penalties, fights, and two Wichita Falls goals. The first of the tallies came from Pat Yudez (4), 8:37 into the period, assisted by Drew Allen and Jason McAloon, tying the game at 1-1. The Wildcats pulled ahead, 2-1, when McAloon (10) wristed one from the top of the left-wing circle past Pheonix Copley at the 16:49 mark of the second period. There were two fights in the period as Miller dropped the mitts with Steven Hoshaw resulting in both players being ejected. The second fight occurred at the 17:16 mark as Joe Smereck took down Daniel Hildebrandt with a series of left-handed punches.
In the third, the IceRays were able to get a late goal, 14:54 into the period, as Cheraso (9) snapped a wrist-shot through the pads of Garavaglia to tie the game, 2-2. It did not last though as Wildcats foward Mac Olson (17) scored the game-winning goal with 40.5 seconds remaining in the period, beating Copley over the blocker pad to secure the victory for the Wildcats.
Final shots were 35-30 in favor of Wichita Falls. Corpus Christi was 1-4 on the power play while Wichita Falls went 0-5.
RYAN HOLT THREE STARS OF THE GAME:
- Mac Olson (GWG)
- Jason McAloon (1-1-2)
- Sam Cheraso (1-0-1)
The IceRays wrap up the unofficial first half of their season with a 7:30 PM game in Frisco, TX against the Texas Tornado. It is the final game before team breaks for two weeks. Fans can catch the pre-game show on the flagship home of the IceRays, News/Talk 1440 KEYS, www.1440KEYS.com, with the voice of the IceRays, Ryan Holt, beginning at 7:15 PM. The game will be available online through the league’s pay-per-view website, www.fasthockey.com. For more information call the Rays’ front office at 361.814.PUCK (7825) or crash the net at www.goicerays.com.
“THE NEW ICERAYS…TOMORROW’S STARS”