ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, November 6, 1996 TAG: 9611060083
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BIRMINGHAM, ALA.
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
Coach Frank Anzalone always preaches defense first to his Roanoke Express hockey players.
The Express got the message Tuesday night, and the result was a 2-1 victory over the Birmingham Bulls in an ECHL game at the Birmingham-Jefferson County Civic Center.
After a scoreless first period, Birmingham (3-3-2) took the lead on a goal by Lance Brady at the 1:06 mark of the second.
The Express (5-5-1) tied it on Chris Lipsett's fourth goal of the season, a power-play score at 12:40 of the second period. Lipsett knocked in the rebound of Michael Smith's shot from the point.
Each team had plenty of scoring opportunities in the third period, but the only player who could convert was Roanoke's Jeff Loder. The 20-year-old center, under contract to the International Hockey League's Manitoba Moose, scored his eighth goal as the Express took the lead at the 10:22 mark.
Veteran goalie Dave Gagnon made Loder's goal stand up to even his record at 4-4-1, holding off the Bulls when they replaced their goalie with an extra attacker in the closing moments.
Gagnon finished with 35 saves as Roanoke outshot Birmingham 39-36.
The Express plays the fourth game of a six-game trip tonight when it takes on the Pensacola (Fla.) Ice Pilots at 8.
LENGTH: Short : 34 linesby CNB