Topeka RoadRunners Fall To Wildcats 4-1

The RoadRunners and the Kansas Expocentre combined to raise $2,116 dollars for the families of CPL David Gogian and OFC Jeff Atherly on Friday night. Unfortunately, they weren’t so generous with their scoring. Riding high on a seven game winning streak, the RoadRunners fell flat against the Wichita Falls Wildcats 4-1.
Tyler Andrew teased a different outcome with his goal at 9:18 of the first period to give the Runners a 1-0 lead. Spencer Viele, riding a bit of a winning streak himself, held the Wildcat offense silent in to start the game and both teams left the ice with Topeka ahead.
In the second period, the proverbial wheels came off. Eliot Grauer tied the game with a power play goal at 5:46. Patrick Yudez vaulted the Wildcats into the lead with a netter at 10:16. And Colin Staub put the exclamation point in what was a nightmare period for the RoadRunners with his goal at 19:40.
Topeka failed to capitalize on any of the four Wildcat penalties in the game (two came in the third period). By the time George Pagonis drilled the game-capping empty netter, the contest was already long over. With the loss, the RoadRunners fall 12 points behind the Amarillo Bulls in the race for first in the South. Topeka remains ahead of idle Texas by five games.
These same two teams are back at it Saturday night at Landon Arena. It will be Topeka Credit Union Night with the RoadRunners. Subway will be entertaining fans with a sub eating contest and Aflac will be tossing ducks during the game.