CORPUS CHRISTI, TX – Sam Cheraso scored a late third period goal as the Corpus Christi IceRays knocked off the Amarillo Bulls, 3-2, in front of 4,864 fans at the American Bank Center on Friday night. It was the first victory of the season against Amarillo for the IceRays. With the win, the IceRays improve to 17-22-2 (36 points) while the Bulls fall to 24-10-3 (51 points) with the loss.
Brandon Marshall had two assists for Corpus Christi while Josh Obregon and Joey Parizek tallied the other goals for Corpus Christi.
Amarillo received two early power plays which got their offense into an early rhythm leading to an even-strength tally. At the 7:23 mark T.J. Sarcona (4) took a feed in front of the net from Sean Keane and snapped a shot past Pheonix Copley to put the Bulls in front, 1-0. Corpus Christi answered back on the power play at the 11:07 mark, when Mychal Monteith’s shot from the blue line was tipped past Nikifor Szczerba by Josh Obregon (7) tying the game at 1-1. Shots were 13-8 in favor of the Bulls.
Corpus Christi solidified their defense in the second period and added the lone goal of the frame to take a 2-1 lead after forty minutes of play. A give-and-go sequence of passes in front of the Amarillo crease resulted in Brandon Marshall’s pass being deflected over Szczerba by Joey Parizek (4), giving Corpus Christi their first lead of the evening. Copley made six saves to ensure that the IceRays would lead 2-1 after two periods. The IceRays outshot the Bulls, 7-6.
The Bulls tied the game in the first minute of the third period, 2-2, when Derek Hills’ shot was tipped past Copley by Sarcona, just 56 seconds into the period. However, the IceRays would respond with the eventual game-winner at the 13:38 mark when Cheraso’s one-time slap shot from the right circle blasted past Szczerba to give the IceRays the 3-2 lead. The tally was assisted by Marshall and Jordan Miller. It would hold up as Corpus Christi defeated Amarillo, 3-2. Final shots were 25-20 for Amarillo. The Bulls were 0-4 on the power play while Corpus Christi went 1-1.
THREE STARS OF THE GAME:
- Sam Cheraso (GWG)
- Brandon Marshall (0-2-2)
- T.J. Sarcona (2-0-2)
Corpus Christi concludes the weekend with a 7:45 PM game against the Bulls on Saturday night. Fans can catch the pre-game show on the flagship home of the IceRays, News/Talk 1440 KEYS, www.1440KEYS.com, with the voice of the IceRays, Ryan Holt, beginning at 7:30 PM. The game will be available online through the league’s pay-per-view website, www.fasthockey.com. For more information call the Rays’ front office at 361.814.PUCK (7825) or crash the net at www.goicerays.com.
“THE NEW ICERAYS…TOMORROW’S STARS”
