Sooners Stun the Tornado 5-3 in Friday's Night's Preseason Game

It looked like it would be great start and a relativity easy win on Friday Night, but some amazing special teams & great goaltending gave the Sooners life in the 2nd half of the preseason game at the Dr. Pepper Arena on Friday Night as the Sooners came back as Matt Pombo was a big time hero as the Sooners won 5-3 over the Tornado despite a getting out-shot 55-25 in the game.

There's should prove very well for Hockey Players who don't get a scholarship as a strong alternative and a should set themselves up well for when the ACHA Hockey Season gets started later this month. For the Tornado, this is just a minor setback as the Tornado will look to rebound on Saturday.


Press Release from the Texas Tornado

In the first of two matchups this weekend between the Texas Tornado and the Sooners on Friday Night, both teams started out lethargic in Game One. However, the Tornado picked up the pace with several chances and thought that they had taken a 1-0 lead after Evan Wilson smashed home a rebound. However, it was ruled the net had been knocked off its moorings and the goal was disallowed. The Sooners would take advantage on the power play with the Tornado in the Box, as Coppell Native Broderick Browne poked home a loose puck past an outstretched Tornado Goaltender Josh Hillegas to give OU a 1-0 lead. The remainder of the period was all Tornado, but Sooners goalie and former Tornado Matt Pombo, stood tall with 20 saves in the first period. The Sooners would make it 2-0, as a breakdown on a Tornado power play led to a shorthanded goal by another Coppell Native, Chad Hudson. Despite the 2-0 deficit, the Tornado outshot the Sooners 20-10 in the first period, but couldn't solve Pombo.

Pombo's hot goaltending continued in the 2nd period, as the Tornado kept firing shots on goal. The lead for the Sooners would increase to 3-0 seven minutes into the period as a shot from the point defensemen Joel Schanke deflected off a Tornado player and found the back of the net past a flabbergasted Hillegas. Rookie goaltender Drew Case would come in for Hillegas halfway through the period, as the Tornado dominated time of possession for the rest of the period. The possession paid off as Evan Wilson sent a shot from sharp angle that deflected off the inside the pad of Pombo, barley crossing the goal line for the first Tornado goal of the night. Assists went to Joseph Mottiqua and Erick Ware. The Tornado out-shot the Sooners 25-3, but it would be OU leading after two periods, 3-1.

The Sooners would increase the lead to 4-1 with another power play goal as Broderick Browne netted his second of the night as he slid his shot past Case after a nice pass from Tornado Troy Puente. The Tornado fought back with two goals in two minutes. The first to make it a 4-2 came off the tape of Tyler Mort, who converted off a rebound with nine minutes to go. A minute later, JD Howard converted from the high slot off the high pass from the corner from forward Jackson Leef. Alec Thieda also assisted on the goal as the Tornado drew within a goal. A late Tornado Penalty spelled doom as Oklahoma would net their fourth special teams goal of the net with just 40 seconds remaining as Chad Hudson scored his second of the night as he fired home a snap shot that beat Drew Case over the glove on the short side. The Tornado out-shot the Sooners 55-25 in the 5-3 loss, but it was with the Sooners Special Teams and goaltending that net them the preseason win on this night.

The Tornado host the Sooners on Saturday, September 11 at 7:30 PM at the Dr. Pepper Arena in Frisco. Tickets for the game are on sale now by calling 972-335-9800 or fans can purchase tickets online.