Hawks top Warriors

WASILLA -- The Houston Hawks scored four straight goals to break a 2-2 tie en route to a 6-4 win over the Wasilla Warriors at Brett Memorial Ice Arena on Friday.

After Andrew Tumbleson scored midway through the second period to tie the score at 2-2 for the Warriors, Houston unloaded for three goals in the final six minutes of the second period.

Rick Morlock took a pass from Matt Bertling and slipped the puck past Wasilla goaltender Ronnie Walker just seconds after the Tumbleson score to kill the Warrior momentum.

Late in the second period Wade Williams and Devin Styers each scored within a 49 second span to give Houston a comfortable 5-2 lead.

Houston, which has skated in just two practices since the mid-season holiday break began Dec. 18, was more than eager to hit the ice. The antsy Hawks scored twice within the first 73 seconds of the game. Wade Williams scored 31 seconds into the game and Larry Kincaid followed with a goal 42 ticks later.

"We got out quick and kind of shocked them," Houston head coach Jamie Smith said.

After the initial burst, Houston slowed down allowing some of the rust collected from a long winter break to kick in.

"We fell right down to their level," Smith said. "When the intensity went up, it tightened up and they exploded."

Morlock added his second goal of the game early in the third period to give Houston a 6-2 advantage.

Despite the four-goal deficit, Wasilla did not lie down, adding a pair of late goals.

Tumbelson scored for the second time midway through the third and Jeremiah Dargis lit the lamp with 1:35 remaining in the contest.

Walker stopped 30 of 36 shots in the game, recording double-digits in saves in both the second and third periods.

Houston netminder Paul Sutton-Jones recorded 19 saves.

Houston, a 3A squad, is now 5-2-1 against large school competition. The Hawks are 12-2-1 overall and a perfect 4-0 against their Valley foes.

Wasilla dropped to 6-8 overall.