The Sam Houston State University inline hockey team traveled to Arlington last weekend to begin the second half of its season in the Southwest Collegiate Hockey League.
The first match for the Kats on Saturday was against division leader University of Texas – Dallas. SHSU defenseman Cullen Klingbail entered the game as the division’s leading goal scorer with 37 goals, while the defense of UTD had not allowed a goal since mid-October.
Klingbail managed to get the Kats lone score on a wrist shot sent over the goaltender’s glove. The Kats went on to lose 12-1.
Next for SHSU was the Lions squad from Texas A&M – Commerce. SHSU forward Derek Smith recorded a hat trick to led the Bearkats to a 7-4 victory.
Sunday’s match up against the Lumberjacks from Stephen F. Austin had been circled on the calendars of the Bearkats since the beginning of the season. SHSU had never beaten SFA.
Smith set the pace for the game with a quick goal past Lumberjack goalie Paul Norman only two minutes into the opening period. A strong performance from Bearkat goaltender Steven Rydarowski kept the Jacks from gaining momentum.
The Kats went up on SFA 3-1 at the end of the first period. The Bearkats triumphed over SFA 8-6, ending the long winless streak.
The wins move the Bearkats into third in the Division II standings. SHSU plays its four remaining games in Denton on Feb. 15 and 16.