THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, November 7, 1994 TAG: 9411070186
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
For one period the Hampton Roads Admirals outhit, outhustled and outscored the ECHL's hottest team.
But one period does not a hockey game make. The road-weary Admirals collapsed in the final two periods, surrendering six unanswered goals in a 7-3 loss to the Richmond Renegades Sunday at the Richmond Coliseum.
The victory lifted East Division leader Richmond to 9-0-1, the league's best record. Hampton Roads fell to 5-5-1, the worst record ever for the Admirals after 11 games.
The loss left the Admirals shaking their heads in disbelief.
``The effort was there,'' Admirals captain Rod Taylor said. ``I don't know what's wrong. I have no answers.''
Scott Gruhl, a 35-year-old veteran who is the IHL's career goals-scoring leader, scored twice Sunday and has six goals in three games against the Admirals, all won by Richmond.
As in the previous games with the Renegades, several Richmond goals came on breakaways set up by poor Hampton Roads passing or a quick Richmond skater.
``I think it was a bit of both,'' Gruhl said. ``People underestimate our team speed.''
Fatigue also appeared to be a factor. It was the fifth game in six days for the Admirals, who bused from Charlotte and arrived in Richmond Sunday at 5:30 a.m., six hours before eating their pre-game meal.
The Admirals won the first three games of the stretch, but looked sluggish in losing to Charlotte and Richmond. Yet they declined to use weariness as an excuse.
``I can't say they're not playing hard,'' Admirals coach John Brophy said.
``They're just not playing as a team.''
With that, Brophy poured a cup of coffee, took a sip and threw the rest of the cup on the floor.
``I don't know what the hell the problem is,'' he said, and walked off.
There was clearly nothing wrong in the first period, when the Admirals hit the ice angry and aggressive and thoroughly dominated.
Richmond scored first when Steve Bogoyevac slapped a rebound of a missed shot into the net midway through the first period.
For the rest of the period it was all Hampton Roads.
John Porco outdueled two Richmond defenders for the puck and flipped in his 10th goal of the season at 12:06.
Jim Brown and Kelly Sorensen quickly followed with goals in succession.
But it was a different team that hit the ice after intermission.
The Admirals were outshot, 17-6, in the second period as the Renegades knotted the score with two goals.
Gruhl scored the game-winner at 1:28 of the third period on a power play slap shot over Patrick LaLime's left shoulder.
Shawn Snesar then tallied an insurance goal on another power play at 10:01.
Poor execution on power plays continues to haunt the Admirals. They failed to score, and rarely managed to get off clean shots, on five power plays.
The Admirals don't play again until Friday, when they host Greensboro at Scope.
``A little time off might be good,'' defenseman Jason MacIntyre said. ``It'll give us a chance to rest a few injuries.
``But I don't think a break is what we need. What we really need is to jell.'' ILLUSTRATION: Charts
Summary
Standings
For copy of chart, see microfilm
by CNB