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Runners Lose Squeaker On The Road
Wichita Falls, TX - Coming into the game with identical 4-1-1 records, the Wichita Falls Wildcats and Topeka RoadRunners figured on paper to play a close game, and that's how it went, with the Wildcats stealing a 2-1 win.
The RoadRunners have shown that they have a propensity to come out of the gate hot. They did on Friday, dominating the 'Cats in the early going, and holding Wichita Falls without a shot for the first 6 minutes of the game. But after taking three consecutive penalties, including one that put the 'Cats on a 5-on-3 power play, the 'Runners found themselves down 1-0, allowing the goal on the 2-man disadvantage. Through a scoreless second period, the 'Runners continued to get chances, but were stifled until Dariusz Gruszka blasted home a powerplay goal to tie the game at 1-1 early in the third. The Wildcats turned up the heat down the stretch, but Bryce Merriam was solid, getting great support from his defense. It was a late powerplay, though, that gave Wichita Falls the chance to pull ahead, and they capitalized, going ahead 2-1 with less than :30 seconds left in the game. The 'Runners fall to 4-2-1 on the year while the 'Cats pull to within 1 point of the first place Fairbanks Ice Dogs, who lost 4-1 at North Iowa Friday.
The RoadRunners will look to split the weekend series when they face the Wildcats again Saturday night. The game will be available on local radio in "Topeka's TOP Sports Station, AM 1490 KTOP", and streaming video available with B2 Networks.
