El Paso\’s Tyler Beasley capped a seven-goal weekend with his second hat trick in three nights as the Rhinos\’ completed a three-game sweep of the New Mexico Renegades with a 6-1 win Sunday afternoon.
El Paso added to its small lead in the Mid-West Division, improving to 12-4-2 with the win. The Rhinos\’ 26 points puts them two points ahead of second place Boulder, followed by the idle Tulsa Rampage with 23 points.
The Renegades actually started the scoring, taking their first lead of the weekend as Bryan Fiol opened the scoring just 3:55 into the game.
But the lead was short-lived as Frankie Posilico leveled the game at 7:18 of the first, followed by a power play goal by Beasley at 13:19 that would turn out to be the game-winner.
New Mexico had outscored El Paso, 2-1, in the second frame in both Friday\’s and Saturday\’s games; but the Rhinos turned the tables on their visitors, outscoring the Renegades, 2-0. Kyle Shapiro scored another power play goal for El Paso at 11:56, followed by Beasley with his second at 13:48.
Beasley scored his third goal at 6:45 of the third period and Ben Henne wrapped up the scoring at 13:02.
Beasley now leads the Western States Hockey League in both goals and points with 19 and 37, respectively. The Indianapolis native scored the first-ever natural Texas hat trick in Rhinos\’ history on Friday night, scoring the first four goals of the game.
El Paso takes a week off for Thanksgiving, returning to action Friday, Dec. 3, as they play host to the Mid-West Division\’s fourth-place team, the Texas Brahmas, in a three-game, three-night series.
For tickets or information, contact the Rhinos\’ front office at 915/479.PUCK (7825) or go to www.elpasorhinos.com.
