The Grit played even for nearly all of regulation against the league leading Lone Star Brahmas before being undone by two rapid-fire goals in the third period and fell 4-2 on Friday night.
Colorado jumped out to an early advantage in the first period, thanks to rookie forward Christian Carter. Carter barreled down the left wing, deked past a Brahma forward, and buried a wrist shot past Lone Star netminder Deivs Rolovs to give the Grit a 1-0 lead just over four minutes into the period. The shot spelled the end of Rolovs’ night, as backup goaltender Jack Weineke entered the contest. Colorado’s lead lasted nearly to the first intermission; Brahma rookie Anthony Cappello found space at the edge of the crease and pumped a shot past Grit goaltender Jack Erickson to tie the game at 1-1 with 48 seconds remaining in the first period.
An even second period saw each team find the back of the net once. Lone Star took the lead on an Ivan Zadvernyuk wrist shot that beat Erickson low glove side, giving the Brahmas their first lead with 9:40 remaining in the second period. Colorado defenseman Jordan Gudridge took full advantage of a breakaway, potting his sixth goal of the season and tying the contest, 2-2, with 4:43 to play in the second period.
After a key penalty kill midway through the third period, the Brahmas offense awoke with tallies in rapid succession. Rookie Justin Kerr found space at the edge of Erickson’s crease and was able to squeak a rebound past his fellow rookie to give Lone Star a 3-2 lead with 7:15 to play in the third period. Barely ninety seconds later, Lone Star forward Jacob MacDonald roofed a snapshot off Erickson’s shoulder and into the top corner and gave the Brahmas a 4-2 lead with 5:55 remaining in regulation.
Colorado put a pair of late shots on net in the final minute, but was unable to crack Weineke down the stretch, who finished with 17 saves on 18 shots in the Brahma win.
