The Syracuse Stampede delivered another loss to the Lockport Express Sunday afternoon. The 6-4 loss dropped the Express to 3-16 on the season. Meanwhile, Syracuse used the three wins over the weekend to close in on second-place Jersey Shore Wildcats. Only 7 points separate the Stampede from the Wildcats.
Syracuse started the game quickly with a strike just 53 seconds into the first period. Nick Sanborn recorded the tally, with Hunter Soden and Rocco DeRollo providing the assists. The team took a 2-0 lead later in the period with Soden ripping one past Adam Partridge. Lockport’s Nick Grupp provided some excitement at the end of the period when he beat Stampede goalie, Martin Sten, on a shorthanded breakaway.
Despite the box score, Lockport dominated Syracuse in the second period. A couple of mental breakdowns in the defensive zone lead to Syracuse goals, but the Lockport forechecking had the Stampede scrambling for most of the period.
Hunter Soden netted his second of the night at 4:20 of the middle period. Michael Sokol answered for Lockport 94 seconds later on another breakaway. Pavel Kovtunov and Ryan Metzler added the assists on Sokol’s goal. Nate Walker scored for Syracuse, and Soden nabbed his third goal of the night for the hat trick before the end of the second period.
Lockport looked early in the third period like they were ready to mount the rally. Newcomer, Blake Bennett scored at 4:14, assisted by Andrew Logar and Luca Mazzo. Rich Hart lit the lamp to give Syracuse their sixth goal of the night at 5:33. Blake Bennett grabbed his second of the period at 18:36. Once again, Logar and Mazzo provided the assists.
“We played really well in the second period, bringing some great pressure. Despite the scoreboard, I think we’re on the verge of some good games and some wins. Once we get some of our injured players back after the holiday, we’ll be looking very good,” coach Frank Vecchio explained.
 |
| Howell Motors proudly sponsors the Lockport Express and Niagara Watercooler's live broadcasts. |