There will be some soul searching after this weekend for the Topeka RoadRunners.
Following a disappointing game Saturday, Topeka looked to rebound Sunday. Instead, they could not break through offensively or defensively, falling 6-1 to the Corpus Christi IceRays at Landon Arena.
“We talked before the game about battling in front of our net and protecting our goaltender,” RoadRunners assistant coach Justin DeMartino said. “In the first and second periods, we weren’t in the right spots defensively, and it left our goaltending out to dry.”
Topeka (6-12-1) was in the game in the second period after an early goal from RoadRunners forward Nick Granowicz cut the IceRays lead to 2-1.
Corpus Christi (6-10-2) responded, however, with three goals in the second period, pushing the lead to 5-1 at the second intermission.
The IceRays added insurance at the 17:02 mark of the third period, as forward Larry Jungwirth tallied his second goal on the evening.
Topeka had its chances, outshooting Corpus Christi 41-35, but they could solve goaltender Chad Veltri, who only gave up two goals on the weekend.
“Our guys played hard, but we didn’t play smart and hard,” DeMartino said. “There are just little details we need to clean up. Right now, those details are hurting us, and we want the details to benefit us.”
The RoadRunners will look for redemption next weekend, as they head to Corpus Christi for two more games with the IceRays Nov. 10-11 at the American Bank Center.
“We’ve got to right the ship pretty quick,” DeMartino said. “It’s early in the season still, and you don’t win seasons early, but you sure as heck can get out of them. We have a familiar opponent next weekend, and we have to be ready.”