Vikings stumble, fall to Lions 4-3

The return to regulation play after the holiday break started out just like the Francis Howell Vikings wanted. A couple of early goals, steady goaltending and solid defensive play looked like the recipe for another Viking victory.  Fort Zumwalt East had other plans.

Senior Danny Del Vecchio continued his mid-season offensive surge, putting the Vikings up 1-0 with his seventh goal of the season just 1:12 into the contest, assisted by Senior Nick Trankler.  Senior Keanean Bahm put his name on the scoresheet at the 6:39 mark of the first period with an unassisted tally, his third of the season and just like that it was 2-0 Vikings. Fort Zumwalt East cut the lead in half ten minutes into the first period, when Owen Masur scored his first of three goals on the evening, but the Vikings held the lead 2-1 at the end of the first period.

Howell reclaimed their two-goal lead when Senior Sean Gilmore scored his third goal of the season with 4:29 left in the second period, battling in front of the net, assisted by Senior Pearce King. FZ East cut back into the lead with a goal of their own with 2:40 left, and the second period ended 3-2 Howell.  That's when the recipe turned bad.

East's Masur scored two goals in the third for the hat trick, and despite pulling their goalie late in the third period, the Vikings could not crack the Lion net minder, dropping the St. Charles conference contest, 4-3.

Francis Howell (11-4-0) will visit the Wentzville Holt Indians (7-6-2) on Tuesday, Jan. 6 for an 8:10 pm match at the Wentzville Ice Arena.