Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, October 23, 1995                   TAG: 9510230141
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

BEST OFFENSE A GOOD DEFENSE IN EXPRESS WIN

On offense.

Roanoke's defense came up big on both ends of the ice Saturday night in a 4-3 victory over Hampton Roads at the Roanoke Civic Center. Defenseman Jon Larson scored two power-play goals, and the Express finally limited an opponent's offensive opportunities.

Twenty-four hours after receiving an 8-2 caboose-kicking at Richmond, the Express handed its previously unbeaten Tidewater rival its first loss in four games.

Saturday was the first solid defensive effort of the young season for Roanoke (3-2), which had been raked for a league-high 22 goals through four games.

``We talked about that before the game,'' said Frank Anzalone, the Express' coach. ``I know it's only Game 5, but I tell you ...

``We weren't nearly as bad as the final score [Friday]. We were playing pretty well, only down 3-2 then they blew the lid off. ... We knew we had to focus on our `D.' We weren't getting it done.''

For most of three periods Saturday night, the Express kept the Admirals in dry dock. Roanoke outshot Hampton Roads 35-28 and led 4-1 after Larson's second power-play goal early in the third period.

The Admirals posted two third-period scores against Roanoke goalie Matt DelGuidice, who turned aside 25 of 28 shots. One was a power-play score by Trevor Halverson that made it 4-2 with 16:33 left, and the other came with four seconds to go when Aaron Downey notched an extra-attacker goal.

Other than that, Roanoke's forwards did a good job forechecking the big, physical Admirals and the defense - a mix of veterans and newcomers - finally clicked.

``It's been tough for the young guys when the older guys are making mistakes,'' said Michael Smith, a defenseman in his third year with the Express. ``It doesn't give them much to look up to.''

Said Anzalone: ``Smith and [fellow defenseman] Dave Stewart haven't played well and they know that. I told them to take a look in the mirror and check their game out. They took it to heart and did a good job.''

Larson's goals came on a pair of identical power-play slap shots. The first made it 3-1 early in the second period, and the second put the Express up 4-1 in the third. They were the first goals by an Express defenseman this season.

``I was just doing my job,'' said Larson, whose left-handed slap shot is reputed to be the hardest on the team. ``I got lucky on both. I was just trying to put them on the goal and hope for a rebound. Somehow, they went in.''

Roanoke's defense turned out to be its best offense, as Larson finished with three points and Stewart had two assists and a big steal at center ice that set up Roanoke's go-ahead score.

In beating Hampton Roads for the fifth time in their past six meetings, the Express reeled off four consecutive goals after falling behind 1-0 when Serge Aubin tipped home a Rod Taylor pass from just left of the crease 2:34 into the game.

Roanoke erased its deficit when Chris Potter and Craig Herr scored a pair of goals 40 seconds apart.

Potter, a player who has gone from a wing to a defenseman and back to a wing in his three seasons with Roanoke, scored his first goal of the season by shoveling a backhand through the legs of goalie Bernard after Herr had won a faceoff with 14:10 left in the first period.

Forty seconds later, Herr rocketed down ice on a breakaway after getting the puck from Stewart near center ice and beat Bernard through the leg pads.

DelGuidice made 12 saves in the first period, many while sprawling on the ice as he denied the Admirals on several point-blank attempts.

``We had some opportunities,'' said John Brophy, Hampton Roads' coach.

ICE CHIPS: Express center Ilya Dubkov suffered a nasty cut on his face in a freak accident during Friday's game in Richmond. Dubkov was on the bench when he was cut by a skate of left wing Brian Gallentine, who was leaping over the boards while leaving the ice. ... The Express plays four road games before returning home Nov.3 to face Raleigh.

NOTE: PLease see micorfilm for scores.