Brahmas Game But Lose To Topeka 5 – 2
By Kirk Estes
Photo Courtesy of David Dudich: Matt Lison had the Brahmas’ first goal on the night but Lone Star lost the contest 5 – 2.
The Brahmas and Road Runners faced off for the third time this season on Friday night at the NyTex Sports Centre. The gloves came off early in the contest with Cole Rose and Philip Middleton dropping the mitts at 5:32. Rose landed several early then things evened out with both trading shots. Rose slipped down and Middleton briefly got the upper hand before the linesmen pulled them apart. Narrow win to Rose for his work early. While the first bout was going on Brandon Vuic cross checked Nick Blase and they went at it. Vuic used his size to tie Blase up and got his lid off. Vuic landed a couple decent rights while Blase never really got going. Clear win for Vuic who also picked up the instigator minor and a game misconduct.
At 8:17 Topeka opened the scoring when they cycled the puck behind the Brahmas net into near corner. Jasen Fernsler sent a centering pass out front that went off Jacob Nehama’s right pad and in as he left the near post to follow the pass.
With just over two minutes to go, Anthony Mousseau and Tyler Poulsen collided just inside the Brahmas blue line, they traded cross checks and Mousseau put Poulsen down. James Ring jumped in to defend Poulsen and Mousseau immediately took him to the ice and had the right loaded, but Ring decided he wanted no part of it and did his best Mr. Turtle impersonation.
At 7:56 of the second the Brahmas were within millimeters of knotting the score. Alexey Solovyev sent a shot from point through traffic that Sebastian Vidmar redirected off the crossbar. Lone Star finally broke the ice at 11:09. They came in on break with Johan Steen leading the charge. Steen gave it up to Michael Crowley who dropped it for Matt Lison. Lison picked up the lose puck, dangled around the defense and put it over Drew Vogler. Time of the goal was 11: 09.
Unfortunately, the Road Runners came right back down the ice just 13 seconds later and a perfect pass from Sam Rennaker found Tomas Nechala on the back door for a shot over Nehama’s right pad.
At 5:06 of the third Mousseau kept in a clearing attempt at the far point and sent it to Alex Dagnal who found Rose at the far half wall for a wrister through traffic and past the blocker. The Rose goal pulled the Brahmas even, but that is all they would get.
A very questionable holding call on Donovan Gardiner put Topeka on the power play. At 6:59 Sly Sutter roofed one from just off the near post with Fernsler and Andrew Roye getting the assists. Roye picked up the next goal at 11:39 when he sent a shot from near point that got through and went off Nehama’s right pad straight up in the air. Nehama swatted at it with the glove hand, but it went off the tip of the glove and bounced behind him. Fernsler who had won the face off got the assist. An empty net, short handed goal from just inside the Topeka blue line by Peter Halash with 34 seconds to go iced it away.
For the second game in a row the Brahmas penalty kill played very strong holding Topeka to 1 – 7. However, the power play continued to struggle score going 0 – 7. They are now scoreless in their last 28 power play opportunities. Shots on goal were fairly even for the night with Topeka outshooting the Brahmas 30 – 27.
Elsewhere Around the NAHL South
Amarillo built a three goal lead midway through the second period, then held on to beat Rio Grande 4 – 2. The Bulls got first period goals from Kyle Gattelaro and Matt Sieckhaus then in the second period Brady Ferguson gave them the three goal lead on the power play. JB Baker finally put the puck behind Collin Delia at 15:57 to put the Killer Bees on the board. However, Gatteraro responded with a late goal to reestablish the three goal lead. The only scoring in the third came from Dylan Abood, but it was too little, too late.
In Odessa, the Jackalopes almost let one slip away as they downed the Corpus Christi Icerays 3 – 2 in a shootout. Razmuz Waxin-Engback’s power play goal was the lone tally of the first period. Lucas Bennett had the only goal of the second to send the teams into the second intermission tied at one. Derek Brown put Odessa back on top early in the third only to see Nick Felan tie it up once again and send it to a scoreless overtime. In the shootout Lukas Laub and Alex Alger scored in the first two rounds to give Odessa a lead. Connor Kelley scored in the fourth round for Corpus Christ and then Joey Palumbo buried one for the win.
Wichita Falls is making a swing through Alaska and faced the Kenai River Brown Bears. Kenai jumped out to an early lead courtesy of Nathan Colwell. Sam Piazza’s shorty pulled the Wildcats back even going into the first intermission. Alfred Johannson staked Wichita Falls to a lead with the only goal of the second period. Jack Gessert scored in under a minute to start the third. Will Vosejpka had the game winner for Wichita Falls at 19:17 of the third.