VISUALEYES STUMBLES IN SHOOTOUT

Team Visualeyes came up short of their 5th straight win Tuesday night, losing 3-2 to Third Street Tap Room in a shootout at Buffalo State Arena. The "V" was unable to find the back of the net in the hard fought, low scoring affair.

NO SMILES HERE

Visualeyes jumped out to an early lead on an incredible mid air tap-in from forward Andrew Valint (Tonawanda). Valint, who was the MVP of his summer softball team, showed off his hand eye coordination by batting home his first goal of the year out of the air, after driving the net hard. Valint's post game remarks can be heard online.

VALINT POST GAME

Rookie blue-liner, Jeremiah Crowe (Kenmore) added to the total, with a blast from the point on the power play on precision passing from Drew Leberer (North Tonawanda) and Eric Schottke (Tonawanda). But after the first period, Visualeyes just could not seem to beat Tap Room goalie, Mark Rosa. Rosa stopped the remaining 23 shots in the second and third period and stopped 2 of the 3 Visualeyes' shooters in the shootout. "The chances were there, we just didn't bury. We need to bear down in front of the net and give Roma more scoring support" said leading scorer Schottke.

Visualeyes did however keep one thing consistent throughout the night, penalties. The team racked up 10 minutes in penalties and could not gain momentum throughout much of the second period because of the problem. The officiating seemed to be a bit lop-sided until a late power play for the "V" with three minutes left to go. Appearing to be an open door for the team,  they could not convert on the man advantage, eventually leading to overtime. A controversial "no-goal" call in the second period on a Dan Brown (Lancaster) wrap around, left Don Borsuk (West Seneca) enraged. "Let's just call a spade a spade. Only two people beat us last night and they were the two guys wearing the stripes. Missed calls, bad calls, wrong calls, out of position; they did it all. I don't care if I get fined for this.....it needs to be said, they STINK."

The dressing room was silent after the team's first loss and rising rookie star, Duff Dunnigan (Getzville) added "You cannot win them all. We need to take this as a learning experience. Get up, brush ourselves off and concentrate on our next game. Fall down 6, stand up 7."

 Eric Schottke was the lone shootout goal scorer for the "V", both Dan Brown and Max Bonito (Amherst) could not beat Rosa.

Visualeyes road does not get any easier, facing off against the newest addition to the EMHL, Pappas Indians who remain undefeated. "We're going to need a solid week of practice to get ready for next week's game." said goalie Adam Roma (Lancaster).

 NOTEBOOK:

-D-man Ryan Donnelly took a stick to the nose midway through the third period and finished the game despite the massive amounts of blood. His partner, JimBO Dunnigan was impressed with his efforts. "That's a hockey player right there! We need more like him." Donnelly's nose is healing well and should not get as big as English-Gunning's.

-Forward Bob Simpson-Corigliano (Tonawanda) missed the game Tuesday postponing the Team Visualeyes picture. "I'm sorry I let the team down."

-Rookie Jeremiah Crowe continues to improve on the ice and is showing his leadership in the dressing room as well. Listen here:
CROWE POST GAME
-Visualeyes returns to the ice next Wednesday, facing Pappas @ 10:20pm.