The Shreveport Mudbugs (18-11-4) gave up four unanswered goals falling to the Oklahoma Warriors, 5-4 in front of a packed house at George’s Pond in Hirsch Coliseum Friday night.
OKC got the board at 7-1 w/ a goal from Brendan Williams in space to give the Warriors the early 1-0 lead. The lead wouldn’t last long as Eric Vitale raced in front and rammed home a rebound in front for his eighth goal of the season and extended his franchise record point scoring streak to 12 games at 7:15. Drake Morse earned the helper on the game-tying tally. SHV would take their first lead of the evening at 12:11 when Logan Gotinsky traveled through the slot and snapped home his tenth goal of the year to give the Bugs a 2-1 edge. Garrett Steele picked up the only assist on the play. Then it was Vitale directing another goal again as Jaden Goldie found him along the far side to make it a 3-1 contest at 13:14. The road team would tally a late goal in the period to make it a 3-2 game. OKC led in SOG, 17-12 after one.
OKC would be able to tie the game late in the second period at 17:00 when William Ahlrik tapped home a backdoor tally to even the score, 3-3. The Warriors led in SOG, 27-24 after two.
OKC went back ahead at 3:56 of the third period when Rylan Brady netted his second goal of the game on the PP to give them a 4-3 lead. The Bugs would put up a good fight, but it was Brady again who tapped in the EN goal to complete the hat trick and go up 5-3. SHV didn’t go down easy as Jaden Goldie jolted in his fifth goal of the season on the PP at 19:37 to make it a 5-4 contest, but that’s the closest the Bugs would get.
SHV’s win streak ends at six games.
SHV and OKC will conclude their two-game series tomorrow night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:11 p.m from George’s Pond in Hirsch Coliseum. FYI, please stick around after the game as the Military theme jerseys will be auctioned off after the game.
