Lancers Fall to Stampede
WORLD-HERALD NEWS SERVICE
Sioux Falls, S.D. - The Omaha Lancers saw their four-game winning streak come to an end Saturday
night in a 5-2 loss against the Sioux Falls Stampede.
The Lancers fell into a 3-0 hole in the first period and couldn't recover against the Stampede, which
has the best record in the 12-team United States Hockey League. Forward Dave Iannozzo led Sioux Falls, scoring three times.
"They're too good to spot a three-goal lead in their own building," Omaha Coach Mike Hastings said. "That's like playing Russian
roulette with five bullets."
Iannozzo's first goal came just 4:03 into the game, and his second came 10 minutes later. The Stampede made it 3-0 with 1:56 left
in the first period when forward James Massen put a shot past Omaha goalie Ray Fraser on the power play.
Omaha forward Dan Hacker trimmed the deficit by scoring early in the second period, but Sioux Falls got that goal back later in the
period when Iannozzo completed his hat trick. It was the second power-play goal of the night for the Stampede, which converted
on 2 of 3 chances.
An unassisted goal by Omaha's Lyon Porter drew the Lancers within 4-2 in the third period. It was Porter's first goal since joining
Omaha from the Capital Center Pride of the North American Hockey League on Tuesday.
But Sioux Falls put the game away when Massen scored an empty-netter with 16 seconds left.
"I'm not into moral victories," Hastings said, "because we didn't get any points out of this one. But we didn't fold in the third period
and had several opportunities."
The Lancers (12-6-3) cap the weekend tonight with their third road game in as many nights. Omaha travels to Des Moines for a
6:05 contest against the Buccaneers, who won 3-2 at Cedar Rapids on Saturday night.
"If we would win two of three this weekend, I wouldn't be disappointed with that," Hastings said. "It's another tough place to play,
but we'll have to be ready."
Omaha 0 1 1-2
Sioux Falls 3 1 1-5
First period-1, Sioux Falls, Iannozzo (Doyle, Corey), 4:03. 2, Sioux Falls, Iannozzo (LaRose, Massen), 15:51. 3, Sioux Falls,
Massen (Mattie, Iannozzo), power play, 18:04. Penalties: Omaha, 2-4; Sioux Falls, 1-2.
Second period-4, Omaha, Hacker (Welch), 4:49. 5, Sioux Falls, Iannozzo (Mattie), power play, 13:33. Penalties: Omaha, 2-2;
Sioux Falls, 2-2.
Third period-6, Omaha, Porter (unassisted), 6:05. 7, Sioux Falls, Massen (Mattie), empty net, 19:44. Penalties: Omaha, 1-2;
Sioux Falls, 1-2.
Shots on goal:
Omaha 9 13 16-38
Sioux Falls 11 9 6-26
Goalies: Omaha, Fraser (22 saves); Sioux Falls, Briggs (36 saves).
Power-play conversions: Omaha, 1-3; Sioux Falls, 2-3.
A-4,456.
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