The Lockport Express celebrates following a 6-5 overtime victory against the New York Aviators at Cornerstone Arena Friday night. (PHOTOS BY SCOTT LEFFLER / ENP STAFF)

By +Scott Leffler 
scott.leffler@eastniagarapost.com

---

Jordan Pocobello and Mark Friol crash the net during Friday night's NA3EHL game between the Lockport Express and New York Aviators.

Down 4-1 with less than two minutes to go in the second period Friday night, Ryan Logar scored for the Lockport Express, bringing the team within a pair of goals. It was the turning point the team needed to come back for an overtime victory.

The Express, led by Logar and Christopher Gasiewicz, overcame the deficit against the NA3EHL's number two team in the west, the New York Aviators, finally winning in overtime on a goal by Brendan McFall.

It started out all New York, as just 33 seconds into the game, Eric Hewitt scored for the Aviators, assisted by Ricky Regala and Phillip Garcia. Gasiewicz tied it for Lockport at 6:24, assisted by Ryan Logar and Mark Friol. New York answered back with goals by Phillip Garcia and Robert Kalata at 9:03 and 1130 respectively.

In the second period, New York extended their lead to 4-1 on a Corey Rees power play goal at 8:59, assisted by Augie Onorata and Ricky Regala. Then Ryan Logar's first goal of the night at 18:50 breathed life into the team. Gasiewicz, assisted. It was 4-2 New York heading into the third period.

In the third, Gasiewicz added his second of the night to make it 4-3 on a power play goal at 6:32, assisted by Gibson Stuart. Less than a minute later, Ryan Logar netted his second, unassisted, at 7:23, tying the game at 4. Not to be outdone, New York went back into the lead on a Kalata goal, assisted by Daniel Backstrom and Jimmy Warrick at 8:33. As time was ticking off the clock, Ryan Logar struck back. Assisted by Gasiewicz and Devin Kasperek, he tied the game -- again -- with 1:20 left in regulation. (watch below)


Lockport started the five-minute overtime period shorthanded but battled back from the 4-on-3 situation until McFall scored at 3:15, assisted by Gasiewicz.

McFall said after the game that he felt he had played poorly up until that goal and that he was happy he could beat New York goalie Stephen Mundinger because he has trouble scoring on big goaltenders. The 210-pound Mundinger stands 6-foot, 7-inches before putting his skates on.

Brendan McFall tells ENP commentator Craig Bacon after the game that he felt he played poorly up until he scored the winning goal.

Express Head Coach Frank Vecchio praised his team for being able to come back from the deficit, saying that he had reminded them during the second intermission that they'd come back to beat New York before.

The same two teams face off at 7 p.m. at Cornerstone CFCU Arena. It is ugly sweater night at the arena. And the game is preceded by a blood drive from 2-6 p.m. All donors will get a pair of tickets to any Express home game this season and could get other prizes as well.

RELATED LINKS: 

• Lockport Express vs. New York Aviators photo album
• Postgame interviews with Brendan McFall and Coach Frank Vecchio

---

Check out East Niagara Post videos on YouTube, Vine and Periscope.