The Mesquite Colts lost to Arlington Wild 4-1 in a contest that proved one thing: it's hard to score goals when you don't shoot the puck. In fact, if the scorekeeper's count was correct, the Colts got off just 8 shots in three periods to Arlington Wild's 38 shots.
It didn't start out that way, however, as Mesquite's #27 Dalton Watkins got the Colts get off to a strong start, putting the ponies first on the board with a goal four minutes into the contest. Cody Hanson got the assist by firing a sweet pass center that Watkins caught just perfect before ripping it into the net.
Coach Hall had his hands full during the early minutes trying to formulate new lines, as the Colts were missing three players. That left the team short-handed and a little shaken confidence-wise, as they tried their best to bond with linesmen they normally don't play with. A turnover late in the first led to a score for the Wild as Payton Baldillez passed it up to #25 James Haddock who hit the net. Another goal at the buzzer by Arlington's John Zimmerman put the Wild up at the end of the first by a score of 2-1.
Colts goalie, senior Paul Hinojo once again was sharp as a tack in net during the first period, deflecting 15 of 17 shots sent his way. By comparison, the Colts got off just 5 shots, and with a short bench, they were already starting to tire after the first 12 minutes.
During the second period, the Colts had their first power play opportunity when the Wild's Michael Chamadias got called for hooking just 38 seconds into play. Unfortunately the Colts failed to generate any heat on the power play and Arlington killed it to return to full strength.
Some good defense by the Colts' Dylan Nessman, Austin Ivy, and Justin Ivy was aided by Captain Ethan Fox who joined them at D, but the Wild kept firing at the net,and Arlington's Derek Kaufman finally slipped one past Paulie seven minutes in. A few minutes later the Colts gave Arlington their only power play opportunity of the game when Adrian Newbern was called for tripping. The best penalty killer on the ice was the Colts goalie, as Paul stopped four shots in two minutes, denying Arlington a power play goal.
Back at full strength the Colts failed to get it cooking and barely got off any shots. Our boys found themselves chasing a very good Arlington team, that handled the puck well, passed with proficiency, and looked like a team that had been together a long time. Once again Arlington out shot the colts 9-2 in the second period, and by this time, our boys were really feeling the burn of their short-handed bench.
The third period started off with a Colts power play opportunity just 17 seconds into the period as Arlington's Lance Weihmuller got tagged for elbowing to spend two minutes in the box. But once again the Colts couldn't generate the plays to score on the advantage. Then the Colts were robbed of one other power play opportunity as the refs totally missed the fact that the Wild had too many men on the ice.
Derek Kaufman scored his second goal of the game 8 minutes in to put Arlington up 4-1after a turnover had the obviously exhausted Colts chasing the puck around their own end.
Despite being crippled by a short roster, unfamiliar lines, and on-ice injuries during the game to veterans Coby Benson and Dylan Nessman, the Colts played hard. Sadly, too much hesitancy in shooting meant too little opportunity to score. But the Colts did do their best given all the things working against them, and their families and friends are still proud of how they battled through the adversity.
The Colts player of the game is #27 Dalton Watkins for scoring the solo goal for the team.
The team will be back to full strength, we hope, for a game on Sunday, Nov. 1, when the Colts face a rematch against McKinney. The game will be at 5:30 in McKinney at the Dr. Pepper Star Center.
