The Shreveport Mudbugs (19-16-5) kept battling all game long, but came up short by a final score of 3-2 to the Wichita Falls Warriors at Kay Yeager Coliseum Friday night.
The Warriors took advantage of their first PP and on a broken play, it was Cole Teleki shooting in a rebound from the short side for his first goal of the season to give Wichita Falls the early 1-0 lead at 5:29. The home team would then score another off a faceoff win from the RW circle as Joseph Harguindeguy whistled home his 12th tally of the year to make it a 2-0 contest. Shreveport responded late in the opening period on a PP of their own when Burke Simpson fired a shot along the short side which found its way into the net for his seventh goal of the season. The goal was unassisted at 18:36 which cut the early Bugs’ deficit to 2-1. Shreveport led in SOG, 14-10 after one.
Wichita Falls would go on an odd-man rush and it was Brendan Williams slapping home his seventh tally of the year from the LW circle push their lead to 3-1 at 3:17 of the 2nd period. It would be the only goal of the period. Shreveport led in SOG, 22-18 after two.
The Bugs would get within a goal again at 7:23 of the 3rd period when Connor Gatto flipped a shot off the goalie’s pads and it was Austin Brimmer shoveling home the rebound for his 12th goal of the season to cut the deficit to 3-2. That would be the closest Shreveport would get as they pulled Simon Bucheler, but couldn’t find the game-tying goal and dropped a 3-2 decision to the Warriors.
The Bugs and Warriors will play game two of this three-game series tomorrow night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. from Kay Yeager Coliseum.