Fitchburg State Downs Salem State, 3-0
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Fitchburg St. (3-5-2, 2-2-1 MASCAC) | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
|
Salem St. (4-3-0, 2-3-0 MASCAC) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Morrison registers first collegiate tally in Falcons MASCAC victory
SALEM, Mass. – Senior goaltender Ryan Wysocki turned away 42 shots, while newcomer James Gordon registered the eventually game-winning tally as Fitchburg State University defeated Salem State, 3-0 in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) ice hockey action at Rockett Arena this evening.
With the victory, Fitchburg State improves to 3-5-2 and 2-2-1 in the MASCAC, while the Vikings fall to 4-3-0 and 2-3-0 within conference play.
Wysocki was stellar from the onset as senior forward Chad Goodwin had an outstanding scoring opportunity for the Salem State in the opening period of play, but Wysocki was able to make a spectacular glove side save to preserve the 0-0 deadlock after 20 minutes of play.
The hosts continued the offensive pressure in the middle frame as the Vikings put 17 shots on target, but Wysocki stood tall, keeping Salem State off the scoreboard to send the game into the final period of play with the score 0-0.
In the third period, Fitchburg State broke the 0-0 stalemate just 2:23 into the stanza when Gordon blasted a shot into the upper right corner of the net on assists from senior Brett Nussbaum and freshman Daniel Robertson for the 1-0 advantage.
The Green and Gold doubled their lead (2-0) roughly four and half minutes later as junior defenseman Mike Morrison intercepted a pass, skated in on a breakaway attempt and proceeded to deposit the puck into the back of the net for his first collegiate tally.
The Falcons sealed the victory at the 18:28 mark when junior Ryan Connolly wristed a shot into an empty net for his fourth marker on the season for the 3-0 margin. Classmate John Celli and Morrison assisted on the play.
Throughout the contest, Salem State held a 42-27 margin in shots, while the Falcons finished 0-for-1 on the power-play. Between the pipes, Wysocki turned away 42 shots en-route to his second shutout of the season for Fitchburg State, while sophomore Marcus Zelzer made 24 saves in 59:18 minutes of action for the Vikings.
Fitchburg State returns to action on Saturday as it hosts the Corsairs of UMass Dartmouth at 5 p.m. Salem State will visit Worcester State University on Saturday at 5 p.m.