The Lockport Express spend time in the Jersey Shore Wildcats zone during the second period of their game at Niagara University's Dwyer Arena. The Express lost the game 4-2. (ENP STAFF PHOTO)

BY SCOTT LEFFLER
scott.leffler@eastniagarapost.com

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NIAGARA UNIVERSITY — After falling behind 2-0 during a sluggish first period, the Lockport Express came back to tie the game at 2 in the second period. But they couldn't go ahead for the win. The defending league champion Jersey Shore Wildcats beat the Express 4-2 at Dwyer Arena tonight with a little help from a WNY hockey alum who tallied an assist for the Jersey team.

Alex Racicot opened the scoring for the Wildcats 4:04 into the game putting the puck past Ian Stahl, who was getting his second start in net for the Express. Kevin Gruber got an assist on the goal. At 9:33, Martin Zahora put the Wildcats up 2-0 on a goal that went off Shotwell and into the net. Tim O'Connor of Warsaw and Arthur Raevsky assisted on the goal.

With just 15 seconds to go in the opening period, Ryan Logar put the Express on the board with assist from Anthony Merante and Nick Siracuse. The Express used the momentum going into the second period, playing a solid 20 minutes against the visiting team. At 10:08, Jacob Burford landed a shorthanded goal for the Express, knotting the game at 2. Siracuse again got the assist.

Things were going good for the Express until 1:08 into the third period when Daniel Vosyka scored for Jersey, putting the team up 3-2. Express Coach Frank Vecchio said the goal appeared to take the wind out of his team's sails. At 6:30, Zahora scored again for the Cats with an assist from Adam Skutchan, putting the score at 4-2, where it stood at the final buzzer.

Vecchio said his team played a solid game against the now 7-0 Wildcats with goaltending being the difference maker.

After six games, Vecchio said they've found their number one goaltender in Tyler Shotwell, who has a 3.5 GAA in two games. Stahl, meanwhile has a 5.0 GAA in two games and Muglia Giancarlo's GAA is 6.0 in two games. The coach gave each netminder two games to prove themselves.

The Express is slated to play two games next Saturday — a "home" game against the Cape Cod Islanders at Morrisville State Ice Complex at  11 a.m. followed by an away game at the same arena just six hours later against the Maine Wild.

The Lockport Junior A team is expected to start practicing at Lockport's Cornerstone Arena on Tuesday. Their first true home game is scheduled for Oct. 18 against the Roc City Royals.

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