MASON CITY, Iowa — The Watertown Shamrocks completed a weekend sweep of the North Iowa Bulls, following up a decisive Friday victory with a thrilling shootout win on Saturday.
On Friday, Zach Boren’s two-goal performance propelled the Shamrocks to a 5-2 win. The teams ended the first period tied 2-2, with Watertown goals from Jake Pietila and Boren answered by North Iowa’s Vitaly Korolyuk and Michael Malatino. Watertown then took control with three unanswered goals—two in the second period and one in the third—courtesy of Daniel Halonen, Boren, and Jorden Gudridge. The Shamrocks secured the win despite being outshot 43-31.
Saturday’s rematch headed to a shootout where Watertown secured a 5-4 victory. North Iowa took an early 2-0 lead in the first period behind goals from Vitaly Korolyuk and Niko Russ. The Shamrocks began their comeback in the second with goals from Daniel Halonen and Justin Bartley, though a Jack Holland score kept the Bulls ahead 3-2 entering the final frame.
Bartley tied the game again at the 13:50 mark of the third, and Antons Macijevskis gave Watertown its first lead of the night less than three minutes later. With only 37 seconds remaining in regulation, North Iowa’s Brody Dietz scored to force overtime. Following a scoreless period, shootout goals by Owen Chartier and Erick Comstock clinched the sweep for the Shamrocks, despite being outshot 41-23.
Watertown (27-18-2-1) remains in fourth place in the Central Division. The Shamrocks return home Tuesday for a special St. Patrick’s Day rivalry game against Aberdeen.
WTNSports.com 