Wildcats get the best of 1st place Bulls on Tuesday

Amarillo 2 @ Wichita Falls 3 – The Wichita Falls Wildcats gave their playoff hopes a big shot in the arm on Tuesday night as they upset the 1st place Amarillo Bulls by a score of 3-2 at the Kay Yeager Coliseum.  It was just the second win in seven tries this season against the Bulls for the Wildcats, but it couldn’t have come at a better time.  The Wildcats have now won two straight games after beating Texas this past Saturday and Tuesday’s win over Amarillo.  Tyler Hope scored twice and Patrick Yudez added three assists in the Wildcats win, which was their 16th of the season.  Wichita Falls is now seven points out of the 4th and final playoff spot in the South Division.  Amarillo suffered just their 5th regulation loss of the season and the loss also marked the first time all year the Bulls have lost back-to-back games in regulation.

The Wildcats scored the only goal of the 1st period, despite being outshot 12-9.  Hope scored his first goal of the game with assists to Yudez and Matt Purmal.  The Wildcats would increase the lead to 2-0 on Hope’s second goal of the game, as Yudez again assisted along with Tucker Poolman.  The Bulls fired back to made it 2-1 before the intermission as Mike Erickson scored a power play goal with an assist to Greg Gibson.  Wichita Falls would increase the lead back to two goals as George Pagonis scored to extend his goal scoring streak to three games and give the Wildcats a 3-1 lead.  Yudez picked up his third assist of the night and Nate Myeroff added the second helper.  Omar Mullan scored his 6th goal of the year to make it 3-2, but Wildcats goalie Matt Leon made the lead hold to complete the Wildcats win.  Leon was solid in goal making 28 saves, while the Bulls Mike Taffe took the loss making 22 saves. Boxscore