Force extends Phantoms skid; Serratore, Gensler net goals

Fargo shut down Youngstown’s offense for a 4-2 win at the Covelli Centre.

By JOHN KOVACH

Vindicator sports staff

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown Phantoms’ first game of the new year in the Covelli Centre Friday night proved to be like the last game of the old year — another loss, their fourth in a row.

After losing three straight games on the road, including a 2-1 loss at Green Bay last Sunday, the Phantoms returned home and dropped a 4-2 decision to the Fargo Force.

In their previous USHL meetings at Fargo on Oct. 30-31, the Phantoms posted wins by scores of 3-1 and 6-3.

Corey Leivermann’s goal gave Fargo a 3-1 lead about midway through the second period, but Youngstown struck back late in the period on Brett Gensler’s unassisted goal.

However, Nate Condon’s goal early in the third period rebuilt Fargo’s lead to two goals.

The Phantoms’ offense fizzled in the final period and they were held scoreless.

Coach Bob Mainhardt of the Phantoms (3-14-2, 28 points, fifth place East Division) said his team didn’t maintain the same offensive intensity in the final period as it had done earlier in the game.

“We were attacking the goal the first two periods, but then stopped doing it in the final period when we needed it the most,” Mainhardt said. “We got outworked in the third period.

“Typically we do score in the third period, but it comes down to trying to score.”

Mainhardt said his team got off a lot of good shots the first two periods, but Fargo goalie Ryan Massa was too tough to penetrate.

“Their goalie was making some really good saves in the first two periods, and we were unable to make our shots,” Mainhardt said. “At crunch time, it was the same old story.

“We didn’t stick to our game plan [to attack on offense].”

Massa finished with 25 saves while Youngstown goalie Jordan Tibbett had 27. But the Force outshot the Phantoms, 31-27.

Mainhardt said that if the same punchless offense reappears tonight, he will be looking to the bench for some replacements.

“We stopped working in the third period,” Mainhardt said. “It only takes one bad apple to spoil the barrel and we had a couple of bad apples who were not buying [into the offense].

“We’ll give the same players another chance [tonight], but if they don’t produce, then we will go to the bench and try some other players who can,” Mainhardt said.

The Phantoms and the Force (20-9-1, 41 points, second in West) will return to the Covelli Centre tonight for a rematch at 7:15.

Last year, the Force won the West Division playoff championship.

Next week, the Phantoms will be home against Team USA for a pair of games — Jan. 16 at 7:15 p.m. and Jan. 18 at 6:30 p.m.

Youngstown took a 1-0 lead early in the game on Tom Serratore’s goal at 15:52 with assists from Dan Senkbeil and Adam Berkle.

The Force retaliated at 8:20 of the opening period with Garrett Allen’s goal with an assist from Matt Leitner.

Fargo struck again with 14:37 left in the second period on Chase Grant’s unassisted shorthanded goal.

The Force increased its lead to 3-1 a short time later as Leivermann connected with assists from Grant and Colten St. Clair at the 11:27 mark.

The Phantoms struck back late in the second period when Gensler found the net with an unassisted shot at 1:13 to cut the deficit to 3-2.

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