Warriors take the fight to the ice Published March 20, 2007 By Staff Sgt. Amanda Callahan 319 Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- The base hockey team gave a great effort, but was defeated by Kelly's Bar 7-3 at Eagles Arena in Grand Forks, N.D., March 14. On the opening puck drop, Eric Schoenhals, centerman, took control of it, skating his way toward the Kelly's goal. Tensions rose during the first period, with Kelly's Bar scoring twice, and Schoenhals scoring the first Warrior goal with 1:12 left in the period. Kelly's Bar widened the gap going in to the third period, 5-2. The under-strengthened team didn't feel the pinch of having one half the team as Kelly's Bar. "Everyone played really hard and we stayed with them for the first two periods," said Schoenhals. The third quarter brought about more aggressive play by both teams, with Kelly's Bar receiving a penalty shot, but to no avail. Mitch Klaus, Warrior goalie, blocked more than 35 shots, but the Kelly's Bar team was successful in tallying two more goals. The last Warrior to score was Mark Reitter, wing, who gave a valiant effort after a two-on-one break from the Warrior's goal. "The short bench really caught up to us in the third," Schoenhals admitted. "It's amazing how one man can change the outcome in a great team sport like hockey, and I think if we had at least one more forward and defenseman we would have won." "It was a hard-fought game," said Dan Smith, defenseman. "When you play a team that's been playing together that long and you make a mistake, they make you pay for it. That's what happened here; we made some mistakes." Despite the loss, Smith's spirit didn't get defeated. "It should be a good game next week," he proclaimed. The Warriors play various amateur teams from the Grand Cities. There are 24 teams split in to two divisions that play Wednesday nights at different venues throughout Grand Forks and East Grand Forks. The Warriors currently have 18 players on their roster.