Falcons Sail Past Vikings, 3-2

Score three goals in third period for comeback

Fitchburg, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University men's ice hockey team posted a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over the Vikings of Salem State University for their 14^th win of the season, in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference action on Thursday evening at Wallace Civic Center.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State University 3, Salem State University 2
Records: Fitchburg State (14-6-3, 9-4-3 MASCAC) | Salem State (8-11-5, 5-9-3 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Salem State struck for the only goal in the first period. After coincidental penalties and the teams skating 4-on-4, senior Derek Makimma (Swartz Creek, Mich) found classmate Michael Casale (Stone Creek, Ont) for his 12^th goal of the season.

The Vikings doubled the lead (2-0) in the second period as Casale netted an unassisted marker with 1:09 to play in the frame.

Working on the power-play to open the third period, the Green and Gold solved the Vikings netminder when junior Nick DiNicola (Wolcott, Conn.) threaded a pass from the left circle into the slot as James Gordon (Hingham, Mass.) deposited the one-timer into the twine to cut the deficit in half (2-1) just 73 seconds into the third stanza.

Fitchburg State University drew even at 10:08, when freshman Spencer Segui (North Haven, Conn.), skating in from the blue line, collected a deep rebound and fired a shot top-shelf for his second of the season. Freshman Sascha Figi (Kloten, Switzerland) and DiNicola added assists on the goal.

The hosts completed the comeback with 5:37 remaining when Figi skating in alone, finished off a pass from DiNicola and beat Viking goalie Jason Pucciarelli (Newmarket, Ont) to make it 3-2.

Inside the Numbers

Kirby Saari (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) made 40 saves for his sixth win of the season for the Falcons. His counterpart Pucciarelli made 32 saves in a losing effort.

DiNicola finished with a game-high three assists.

50th meeting between the two schools in ice hockey with the Falcons 9-35-6 all-time when taking on the Vikings.

Fitchburg State and Salem State have split the last three meeting (1-1-1). With the two teams skating to a 0-0 overtime draw in the last matchup (1/20/18) at the Rockett Ice Arena.​

Up Next

The Falcons return to action on Saturday afternoon when they travel to Westfield for a 5:35 pm tilt. The Vikings host Framingham State University on Saturday at 7:00 pm.