ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, March 2, 1996 TAG: 9603040097
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C.
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
Rob Donovan scored a shorthanded breakaway goal early in the third period to break a 2-2 tie, leading the South Carolina Stingrays to a 4-2 victory over the Roanoke Express on Friday night in the East Coast Hockey League.
Donovan beat pinching defenseman Dave Stewart at the right point, raced down the left wing and tucked a backhand shot under Express goalie Matt DelGuidice at the 6:19 mark of the third period.
Roanoke opened the scoring midway through the first period, when Jeff Jablonski tapped in his team-leading 34th goal of the season on a behind-the-net feed from Chris Potter at 12:16 to take a 1-0 lead through one period.
DelGuidice was spectacular in the second period, stopping several point-blank chances in succession before being beaten late in the period. Kevin Knopp put a spin move on Express forward Mike Stacchi, worked to the slot and beat DelGuidice on a hard wrist shot at 17:03 to tie the score at 1.
A wild third period featured three goals in the first seven minutes. South Carolina's Jamie Leach pounced on an errant shot by Mike Ross and beat DelGuidice with a harsh-angle backhand for his first goal in the ECHL and a 2-1 Stingrays lead.
Michael Smith tied the score barely two minutes later, snapping a quick one-timer past Stingrays goalie Sean Gauthier on the glove side after a Jeff Jestadt shot caromed right to him.
Leach added an empty-net goal with 30 seconds left to complete the scoring.
The Express (31-26-3 ) finished a five-game trip 0-4-1 and returns home to face the Mobile Mysticks on Tuesday. The Express has won seven in a row at the Roanoke Civic Center.
South Carolina (32-19-7) improved its record against the Express to 4-3-1 this season, breaking a three-game losing streak.
ICE CHIPS: The start was DelGuidice's first in consecutive games since the Express signed Daniel Berthiaume in mid-November. ... Roanoke's Craig Herr (ribs) and Jason Clarke (shoulder blade) sat out with injuries. ... Stingrays coach Rick Vaive was suspended by the ECHL for a salary-cap violation. ... The Express has scored five goals in its past four games.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Short : 48 linesby CNB