Three-goal 3rd period lifts Wildcats over Mustangs
New Mexico 2 @ Wichita Falls 4 – The Wichita Falls Wildcats scored four unanswered goals, including three in the 3rd period to defeat the New Mexico Mustangs 4-2 at the Kay Yeager Coliseum in the lone NAHL game on Monday night.
After a scoreless 1st period which saw New Mexico’s Randy Graham and Wichita Falls’ Jo Jo Jeanetta shine in goal, it would be the Mustangs who struck with the first two goals. Patrick Anderson scored on an unassisted marker to make it 1-0 and that was followed by Evan Johnston’s goal which made it 2-0 with assists to Adam Chapie and Ryan Dau.
However, the last half of the 2nd period and all of the 3rd period was all Wildcats. Tucker Poolman scored to make it 2-1 with less than two minutes remaining in the 2nd period to give Wichita Falls some much needed momentum heading into the lockerroom.
Pat Thompson knotted the score at 2-2 eight minutes into the 3rd period with assists to Poolman and Chris Pontello. Sergei Soloviev added the eventual game winning goal less than four minutes later with assists to Renato Engler and Pochiro. Pochiro then completed a three point night with the Wildcats fourth and final goal with an assist to Rodney Lalonde to secure the 4-2 win.
Jeanetta made 25 saves in the win, while Graham suffered the loss, making 44 saves. The win moved the Wildcats into a 5th place tie with Odessa, who both are five points behind Corpus Christi for the fourth and final playoff spot. With only eight games remaining in their regular season, the Mustangs sit nine points out of the final playoff spot.
