Topeka RoadRunners Beat Rays 3-1

Put a lot of pucks on the net and good things are likely to happen. The RoadRunners did just that Saturday night and managed to make enough of them stick to earn a satisfying 3-1 victory over the visiting  Corpus ChristiIce Rays.

Trace Strahle got things going in the first, taking advantage of Lucas McDiarmid’s slashing penalty to put the RoadRunners up 1-0 at 9:03. Minutes later, Tyler Groat appeared to have put the Runners up by two only to have the goal waved off in favor of a slashing call. Undeterred, Groat bounced back at 19:11 and fired one past Ben Myers to give the Runners a 2-0 heading into intermission.

A Michal Pastor interference penalty from the first period led into the second and the Ice Rays took advantage. Emil Romig found himself on Spencer Viele’s blind side and made it count, cutting the lead to 2-1.

In the third it was recently called up Mike Gornall who put the game away for the RoadRunners with his goal at 9:26. On the night, the RoadRunners rang up a 34-19 shots-on-goal edge over the Ice Rays. Spencer Viele turned in a strong performance between the pipes, stopping 18 of 19.

The Runners will hit the road for the rest of February starting this Thursday in Frisco against the Texas Tornado. They will return to Landon Arena on March first to face the Wichita Falls Wildcats. Fans can catch every away game at Blind Tiger Brewery and Restaurant. Thursday’s game starts at 7:30pm but get there early as seats are limited.

Corpus Christi Edges Topeka RoadRunners In Shootout 3-2

Despite having more shots than Corpus Christi by a wide margin in regulation, the RoadRunners were forced into overtime and then shutout in the shootout, losing to the Ice Rays 3-2.

A spirited fight between Tyler Groat and Lucas McDiarmid led to McDiarmid’s ejection and a powerplay at 6:03 in the first. A minute later, Patrick Pollock fired a laser over Hayden Stewart’s left shoulder to give the RoadRunners a 1-0 lead. Corpus Christi responded at 13:54 with a goal by Beau Walker, knotting the game going into the first intermission.

A scoreless second gave way to a busy third where the Ice Rays would take the lead on Ryan McNeely’s goal at 3:47. Now down 2-1, Drew Kariofiles gave the hometown faithful a reason to cheer with his goal at 6:13. The RoadRunners failed to capitalize on Michael Economos’ tripping penalty at 16:02, resulting in overtime. Neither team mounted a serious charge in the extra frame bringing about a sudden death shootout.

Stewart shined against the penalty shots, stonewalling all four RoadRunners he faced. Mackenzie Sawyer was not so lucky. Charles Baldwin drew first blood on the Ice Ray’s first attempt and Beau Walker sealed the deal on their fifth attempt, clinching a 3-2 win.

The RoadRunners will look to get back on track Saturday Night during Children’s Miracle Network Night at Landon Arena.