                                ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Sunday, February 4, 1996               TAG: 9602050074
SECTION: SPORTS                   PAGE: B-2  EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: RICHMOND
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT

LATE GOALS VERY COSTLY TO EXPRESS ROANOKE FALLS 3-1 IN FINAL MINUTES

Scott Gruhl's second goal of the game, with 3:30 remaining, broke a 1-1 tie, and Trevor Senn added an insurance goal with 32 seconds to go as the Richmond Renegades skated past the Roanoke Express 3-1 on Friday night in an East Coast Hockey League game at the Richmond Coliseum.

An errant clearing attempt by the Express defense landed at the feet of Gruhl, who spun and beat Roanoke goalie Daniel Berthiaume with a shot over the right shoulder.

Less than three minutes later, Senn iced the game by beating Berthiaume low on the glove side after taking Dave Stewart one-on-one in the game's final minute.

Richmond took a 1-0 lead early in the first period, as Gruhl corralled a Mike Burman breakaway feed and split the Express defense. Gruhl beat a fallen Berthiaume high over the stick side at 5:05.

Richmond netminder Aaron Israel was stellar in the opening period, stopping Express centers Ilya Dubkov and Craig Herr on clean breakaways, in addition to stuffing Tim Christian and Jason Clarke on walk-in opportunities.

Roanoke's only goal came early in the second period, when defenseman Michael Smith ended a personal 24-game goal drought with a center-point slap shot off Israel's glove at 2:31.

The Renegades (34-6-8) won for the 20th time at home this season. The Express (25-21-2) has won only one of its past 11 road games after an 8-5-0 start away from Roanoke.

The Express killed all seven Richmond power plays, including a third-period double minor on Dave Stewart and a major spearing penalty on Karry Biette. However, Roanoke also was 0-of-4 against the ECHL's top penalty-killing unit.

Roanoke is scheduled to visit the Raleigh IceCaps for a 6:30 faceoff

The Express' scheduled game Saturday night at Hampton Roads was postponed because of bad weather in the Norfolk area. The game will be made up March 10 at a time to be announced. Roanoke is scheduled to visit the Raleigh IceCaps for a 6:30 faceoff today.

NOTE: Please see micorfilm for scores.

LENGTH: Short :   47 lines

by CNB