Serratore explodes in third, propels Phantoms past Fargo

FARGO, N.D. — Tom Serratore’s three-point third period boosted the Youngstown Phantoms to a 6-3 road victory against the Fargo Force, as the visitors improved to 4-1-1 away from home on the strength of a two-game weekend sweep at the Urban Plains Center.

The Phantoms (4-4-1) trailed 1-0 in the first but rallied back on second-period goals by Stuart Higgins (power play) and Brett Gensler about four minutes apart to grab a 2-1 edge heading into the final frame.

But the Force forged a tie on a power-play goal by Alex Lippincott at 3:19 of the third and the contest was renewed.

That’s when Serratore took over. The third-year USHL veteran assisted on Adam Berkle’s go-ahead marker at 5:34, then scored his first of the season from the left-wing boards just 1:56 later to push Youngstown up by two.

Joe Rehkamp’s stuff from the left post drew Fargo to within 4-3, but both Gensler and Serratore found the back of the Force goal with netminder Ryan Holfeld pulled for an extra skater late.

For Gensler it was his fourth goal in two nights and his seventh in the Phantoms’ first nine games.

Youngstown goalie Jordan Tibbett held the fort valiantly with the Phantoms trailing 1-0 and was rewarded by the offensive explosion with his second win of the campaign.

The former Mahoning Valley Phantom (NAHL) made 26 saves to improve to 2-3-0.