Player-coach Karl-Heinz Granitza scored four goals-including a three-point game-winner-to lead the Power to a 14-10 victory over the Canton Invaders Friday night in Canton.
Granitza`s long-range bomb in the fourth quarter erased a 10-9 Canton lead and pulled the Power (9-7) to within a half-game of the league-leading Invaders (9-6).
The 37-year-old Granitza had a hat trick before the second period was five minutes old, scoring a one-point power-play goal in the first period and a pair of two-pointers in the second.
The loss was only the second the defending-champion Invaders have suffered at home in eight games this season. It was an especially satisfying win for the Power, which was coming off an embarrassing 10-4 loss to the last- place Dayton Dynamo Wednesday night in Dayton.
Canton`s defense proved to be no match for the Power`s run-and-gun attack. The first line of Granitza, Lito Zabala and Batata kept the pressure on Canton goalie Jamie Swanner all night. That line was on for all but one of the Chicago goals.
”I moved myself to midfield,” Granitza said, ”and moved Batata outside to create more opportunities. Forget my four goals. Batata played his best game of the season.
The Invaders, who have won three of the last four American Indoor Soccer Associaton championships, may be headed in the opposite direction. They have given up 47 points in their last four matches.
Power defender Bret Hall scored just 38 seconds into the game to give the Power a 2-0 lead.
That margin was erased on a fluke goal by Canton`s Rudy Pikuzinski.
With the Invaders playing short-handed, Pikuzinski launched a high, arching shot from the faceoff circle, catching Power goalkeeper Mark Simpson by surprise.
Simpson had strayed out to the yellow line and could do nothing but watch as the ball sailed over his head and bounced once before landing in the net behind him. That was good for three, giving Canton a one-point lead.
Granitza tied it with his power-play score just a half-minute later. Granitza then reeled off a pair of two-pointers in the second quarter to boost the Power advantage to 7-3.
Pikuzinski`s penalty kick closed it to 7-5, but Oscar Albuquerque notched a two-pointer with less than two minutes to play in the half, giving the Power a 9-5 halftime lead.
Canton ran off five unanswered points in the second half for a 10-9 lead before Granitza put Chicago ahead to stay with his 60-foot three-pointer.
”Now we make our move for first place,” Granitza said. ”We have five home games in January and we can really pick up some steam.”
The Power`s next game is Friday against the Memphis Storm at the Rosemont Horizon.
