THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, February 21, 1997             TAG: 9702211042
SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C3   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: JOE COLLIER, CORRESPONDENT 
DATELINE: MOBILE, ALA.                      LENGTH:   41 lines

SLUMPING ADMIRALS FALL SHORT TO MOBILE HAMPTON ROADS HAS NOW DROPPED 3 OF ITS LAST 4 GAMES.

One minute of offensive output was not enough for the Hampton Roads Admirals Thursday night as they fell 4-3 to the Mobile Mysticks.

The Admirals trailed 2-0 heading into the final period before their offense caught on fire in the first 56 seconds of the third period. Hampton Roads forward Randy Pearce struck 36 seconds into the third period, streaking down the center and flipping a shot high past Mobile goaltender Sinuhe Wallinheimo to cut the Mobile lead to 2-1.

Hampton Roads won the face-off and immediately skated in for the equalizer 20 seconds after their first goal.

This time the Admirals' Joel Poirier finished off the attack, knocking in the puck for a 2-2 tie.

The Hampton Roads' spurt, however, proved to be short-lived as Mobile regrouped to regain the lead. Mysticks forward Lee Giffin found the net at the 4:35 mark. And with 6:05 remaining in the game, Mobile left winger Jason Elders blistered a shot past Admirals goaltender Darryl Paquette for a 4-2 Mobile edge.

``We dominated the game and we played like we're supposed to,'' Pearce said. ``We came right out in the third and scored without any problems, but we've got to play a full 60 minutes if we expect to win.''

The Admirals drew to within a goal with 5:40 left when Hampton Roads forward Dominic Maltais chipped a puck over the shoulder of Wallinheimo.

The Admirals, however, could not score again as they fell to 34-15-3. It was their third loss in their last four games.

``With 18 games left in the season, we got to be playing better that this,'' said Pearce, the Hampton Roads captain. ``We've lost three of our last four now. We got to start winning again pretty soon.''

The Mysticks improved to 27-19-8 with the win, moving back into third place in the ECHL South Division.

NOTE: The Admirals learned that All-Star defenseman Chris Phelps has been been recalled to Portland Pirates of the AHL. Phelps left the team following the game with Mobile. There was no estimate how long he would be gone.