L-P falls to first-place Cheektowaga

Lewiston Porter Sentinel, February 3, 2007

Cheektowaga’s Rob Szynkowiak (21) skates in on Lewiston-Porter goaltender Carmen Crapsi during Thursday’s game at Niagara University. Crapsi stopped this shot, but Szynkowiak scored three goals on the night during a 5-3 win for the Warriors. (photo by Larry Austin)

Western New York Small School Club Hockey scoring leader Rob Szynkowiak scored three goals and assisted on two others Thursday night as Cheektowaga remained unbeaten in league play, beating Lewiston-Porter 5-3 at Niagara University’s Dwyer Arena.

Szynkowiak scored an empty net goal with 32 seconds left in the game on an assist from Steve Noworyta to ice the victory. Noworyta added a goal while Jared Fisher tallied a goal and an assist for the Warriors.

Marc DeGiulio scored the Lancers’ first goal on an assist from Tom Mooradian to cut the Cheektowaga lead in half at 2-1 in the second period. L-P had an opportunity to tie the game late in the period when they went on a power play, but Fisher scored shorthanded with just 4.4 second showing on the clock, sending the Warriors to the locker room with a 3-1 lead.

Szynkowiak scored 6:11 into the final period to give Cheektowaga a 4-1 lead before Ryan Clayton scored the second L-P goal on assists from DeGiulio and Mooradian. Hagop Otabachian scored with 2:29 remaining in the third period on assists from Scott Beseth and Danny Peters to cut the Cheektowaga lead to one goal.

Szynkowiak scored an empty net goal with 32 seconds left to put the game away.

Cheektowaga improved to 12-0-1, while Lew-Port fell to 7-7-2.

Ryan Clayton makes a move around the Cheektowaga defense. He later scored on a similar rush for the Lancers. (photo by Larry Austin)