Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 4, 1990 TAG: 9003042163
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Considering what has transpired the past two days in Virginia, Geery had better examine his bags. His hockey team may have flown south, too.
For the second straight night, the Lancers played the role of corpse Saturday. This time, it was the Erie Panthers handling the shovels, burying the frustrated Virginia 7-1 at the LancerLot.
The loss was Virginia's season-high fourth straight. The Lancers' one-time easy march - at least it looked that way - to the East Coast Hockey League's regular-season title remained stalled with five games left.
"We're still in first, and we'll still be in first by two points or tied depending on what happens tomorrow," said Dave Allison, Virginia's coach.
That's the only good news, though. Erie and Winston-Salem, tied for second with 33-22 records and 72 points, now trail first-place Virginia (34-21) by only two points.
"It's starting to really heat up," Allison said.
Although the scoreboard was no proof, at least the Lancers were in this one briefly, which was in stark contrast to the previous night.
"I thought for the majority [of the time] 90 percent of the guys worked hard," Allison said. "We worked hard, just nothing went right for us."
Obviously embarrassed by the Friday fiasco, Virginia came out and controlled play in the first period. Still, it meant nothing - a scoreless tie.
Erie, which had lost five of six games to Virginia, dropped the bomb in the second period. Taking advantage of repeated Virginia defensive lapses, the Panthers scored four goals in the first 9:20.
After Marty Rouse's rebound erased the zero from the home side of the scoreboard - the Lancers hadn't scored in 95 minutes, 17 seconds spanning two games - Erie put an exclamation mark on the rout when Bill McDougall scored on a short-handed breakaway 2:35 later.
The game out of hand, the Lancers began attempting to deliver a message to coach Ron Hansis' club.
After Erie's sixth goal, 50 seconds into the final period, frustrated Virginia hit man Steve Herniman leveled Erie's Peter Buckridge with a savage two-handed slash to the legs. Herniman was ejected, joining defenseman Doug Hobson, who was tossed 28 seconds into the game after he tangled with McDougall, then struck linesman Paul Simeon in the jaw during the tussle.
With 5:57 left, Virginia's Marco Fuster took a high stick to McDougall, who earlier had scored his league-high 65th and 66th goals of the season.
"I thought that was bush," Hansis said of Virginia's tactics. "I had a lot of respect for this team until tonight."
Allison lit up when told of Hansis' comments.
"They're the most gutless team in the league," Allison said.
"Erie is a bunch of mouthpieces. They yap, yap, yap, and then won't fight. Tell [them] we'll show up next Friday [at Erie]."
\ ICE CHIPS: Virginia skated without valuable forward Graham Stanley, who suffered a possible broken jaw Friday. Allison said the Los Angeles farmhand will be recalled so Kings officials can take a look at his injury. . . . Forward Greg Neish, whom Allison had hoped would be back this weekend, remains sidelined with a bad left ankle. Neish, who has been out the past month, said he may play tonight. . . . The Lancers will attempt to regroup tonight at 7:30 against Nashville. Virginia is 6-1 vs. its Tennessee rival.
Erie 0 5 2-7
Virginia 0 1 0-1
First period-None. Penalties-B. McDougall, Er (high-sticking), :28; Hobson, Va minor-triple major (instigating, fighting, misconduct, game misconduct), :28; Bergeron, Er (hooking), 9:16; Marsden, Er (roughing), 10:11; Harpe, Er (unsportsmanlike conduct), 12:47; Herniman, Va (unsportsmanlike conduct), 12:47; Fuster, Va (cross-checking), 16:42; Bergeron, Er (interference), 19:07.
Second period-1, Erie, Johnson, 3:58. 2, Erie, Kummu (Tarrent, Chyzowski), 8:02. 3, Erie, Buckridge (Johnson), 8:13. 4, Erie, B. McDougall (Harpe), 9:20. 5, Virginia, Rouse 3 (Herniman, Whitfield), 15:17. 6, Erie, B. McDougall, 17:52 (sh). Penalties-Johnson, Er (delay of game), 16:03.
Third period-7, Erie, Marsden (Kummu, Buckridge), :50. 8, Erie, Stromback (Chyzowski, Bergeron), 18:57. Penalties-Herniman, Va double major (slashing, game misconduct), :50; Taylor, Va (high-sticking), 7:36; Fuster, Va (high-sticking), 14:03; Barnett, Er (leaving crease), 14:03.
Shots on goal-Erie 8-10-10-28. Virginia 12-16-3-31.
Power-play opportunities-Erie 0-of-4. Virginia 0-of-4.
Goalies-Erie, Barnett (31 shots-30 saves). Virginia, Cook (28-21).
A-1,686.
by CNB