The Dallas Sidekicks recovered after a disastrous second period, coming back from a 6-2 deficit to win, 10-9 in overtime, over the El Paso Coyotes Saturday Night at the Allen Events Center. Even after Dallas took a two-goal lead late, and the Coyotes tied it with seconds left, they would not be denied as they scored a minute and a half into the sudden death overtime to take the victory.

Adding weight to the victory was the choice by Head Coach Simon Bozas to play a number of younger players, including rookies, against a team that had beaten the Tacoma Stars in their previous game. An announced attendance of 1,915 saw Clark Binning score the first goal of his career, Jonathon Segura get an assist on Binning's goal, and Fernando Cortes get his first start in goal. Cortes found a way to maintain his composure in such a back and forth game to make saves and key plays late into the match. But it was veteran players like VcMor Eligwe, Jamie Lovegrove, Ricardinho, and Cameron Brown who asserted themselves late to earn the victory.

The game started slowly. Early on, Dallas seemed to handle El Paso better than they did on December 15, when the Coyotes ran out to an early 2-0 lead, but the visitors still got on the scoreboard first at 12:56 in, taking advantage of a power play thanks to Dallas having too many men on the field. Jorge Rios set up Jose Moreno for the opening goal.

After Dallas tied the match at 1:59 into the second period through Nestor Hernandez, though, the Coyotes pushed their advantage to 6-2 at the half, despite only having 11 players dressed for the match. Contributing to the run in the second period was a yellow card for dissent to Cody Ellis that cost Dallas one of its most experienced defenders. With new goalkeeper Cortez in goal, losing Ellis was costly. First, Rios scored at 6:40 through Rios on an assist from Hugo Puentes, then Rios scored again at 9:10 to make it 3-1 El Paso. It was after that, at 10:41 into the second period, when Ellis got his yellow card for dissent, which meant he was in the penalty box for the remainder of the period.

New sidekicks keeper Fernando Cortes catches the ball against EL Paso Coyotes. (1/5/18) (Michael Lark / Dallas Sidekicks)

El Paso would proceed to score three goals in that stretch via Rios, Luis Palacios, and Omar Tapia. Although Brown snuck one back in that window as well, it left Dallas with a four-goal deficit and only thirty minutes of play to overcome it.

Whatever was said in the locker-room at halftime, it worked. Dallas stormed back in the third, scoring a mere minute and 26 seconds into the third as Binning scored his first goal of the season. A goal at 5:52 through Eligwe off a set piece got the Sidekicks to back within two. Then a phenomenal individual effort from Fernando Garza got Dallas to within one as he picked the ball up in the Sidekicks' defensive zone, took it into the El Paso end and then put home a rebounded shot from Anthony Powell at 6:22. Then Gustavo Piedra would tie the match at 6 thanks to another Powell assist, but Oscar Ramirez took the lead back with a shot from the Dallas line after a poor clearance from Mychel Jones in the last minute of the period.

Dallas shook off that goal and started a new run, scoring 1:25 into the fourth through Ray Aguayo, and the Sidekicks finally took the lead after Oscar Ramirez was shown a blue card for tripping and Dallas scored on the ensuing power play. Ricardinho worked the ball through the left wing a couple of times before switching to Lovegrove on the left side, and Lovegrove's one-time shot found the back corner of the net.

Then Eligwe scored what looked to be the dagger. After winning the ball with a strong defensive effort in Dallas' half, Eligwe fed Ricardinho and made a deep right side run to receive the ball back and slot home what Dallas hoped was the insurance at 11:56 in.

It proved necessary as Puentes scored moments later as the Coyotes went to the 6th attacker, bringing the score back to within one with less than two minutes to play. And then sloppy play at the back turned into a turnover, resulting in an uncontested shot and the tying goal with ten seconds left, again through Puentes.

Eligwe eventually did score the dagger, though, 1:31 into the overtime period. Hard work early resulted in a chance and after a fight for the ball, Eligwe scored the winner at the back post. It was Bozas's first win in extra time.

After the result, the Sidekicks have solidified their position in second place in the Southwest Division, with a game Sunday against the Monterrey Flash, who are in first place. El Paso falls to last in the Southwest despite the valiant effort.