Topeka edges Corpus Christi on Sunday, 2-1
September 20, 2015
Corpus Christi 1 @ Topeka 2 - The Corpus Christi IceRays (1-1-0) were stifled by the Topeka RoadRunners (2-2-0) for most of the contest, falling 2-1 on Sunday night at the Kansas ExpoCentre.
For the second-straight night, the IceRays jumped out to the lead in the first period. At 2:53, forward Andrew McGlynn jammed home a loose puck in the Topeka crease for his first power play goal and a 1-0 IceRays lead. The RoadRunners narrowly tied the contest at 7:27, but a hand pass forced the puck into the IceRays net and was recalled upon further review by the officiating crew.
Despite their setback, the RoadRunners dominated the second period and found two answers. On a two-on-one rush, RoadRunners forward Quinn Preston rifled a shot just under the crossbar in the left circle to knot the contest at 5:53, 1-1. Just past midway through the frame at 10:27, RoadRunners defenseman Ryan O’Connor took a slap shot from the left point and found a seam through a net-front screen to power the RoadRunners ahead, 2-1, on his first power play goal of the year.
The IceRays made a few pushes in the third period to even the score, but the RoadRunners kept up the pressure in the neutral zone and forced the road side back in their own zone for most of the frame. The IceRays pulled their netminder to gain the extra skater late in the game, however it wasn’t enough to erase the deficit, eventually faltering 2-1.
RoadRunners goaltender Tyler Johnson (1-1-0) earned the win, saving 13 of 14 shots, while IceRays netminder Dryden McKay (0-1-0) grabs the loss, stopping 33 of 35 shots.
