Salem State Holds Off Fitchburg State, 6-4

Connolly registers three points for Falcons in MASCAC setback

SALEM, Mass. – The Fitchburg State ice hockey team dropped a 6-4 decision the Vikings of Salem State University in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference action on this afternoon at the Rockett Arena.

Both goalies opened the game making solid saves as Fitchburg State senior goalie Corey McMahon made a diving stop to prevent sophomore Michael Casale from an open net. Not to be outdone, Salem State net- minder Marcus Zelzer stoned senior John Celli on a breakaway attempt early in the period to keep the game scoreless.

Casale broke the 0-0 stalemate with his eighth goal of the season, firing a wrist shot blocker side for the 1-0 advantage as junior Brandon Platt and senior Keaton Cashin were credited with the assists.

Salem State kept the offensive pressure on Fitchburg State for most of the period, but Celli took advantage of a power-play opportunity and fired a one-timer into the top right shelf to tie the game at 1-1 before the Falcons took advantage of a turnover in the Vikings' zone, taking lead when senior Ryan Connolly's shot trickled beneath the pads of Zelzer for a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes play.       

Five goals were scored in the second as the teams entered the third tied 4-4. Senior Andrew Bettencourt tied the score (2-2) just 50 seconds in when he punched in a loose puck in front of the net. Sophomore Casey Miller regained the lead for the Vikings when he knocked home a rebound for the 3-2 lead.

The Falcons answered back as junior Cameron Snyder retied the game (3-3) midway through the frame, firing a shot near side into the back of the net. The back-and-forth battle continued monments later when Casale temporarily gave the lead back to the hosts before newcomer Michael Fretz deposited a one-timer into an open net on a Falcons two-man advantage in the final minutes of the period.

The Falcons controlled the tempo in the third, as their offense continually pressured the Vikings in their zone. However, it was Platt who took an errant pass and beat his defender and scored stick side took give the Vikings a 5-4 lead.

The Falcons came close to tying the score in the closing minutes, but sophomore Ryan Wilkinson wristed a shot into an open net with just three seconds remaining in the contests, resulting in the 6-4 final..     

Throughout the contest, Salem State out-shot Fitchburg State 51-26, while the two team combined to finish 5-for-10 on the power-play. In net, McMahon stopped 45 shots for the Falcons in 59:33 minute of action, while Zelzer made 22 saves for the Vikings in the complete game effort.

Fitchburg State (10-12-1, 7-8-1 MASCAC) returns to action on Thursday as it hosts the Panthers of Plymouth State for a contest starting at 7 p.m. Salem State (17-5-0, 13-2-0 MASCAC) will travel to UMass Dartmouth to take on the Corsairs at 7:30 p.m.

Release courtesy of Salem State SID office

Follow the Falcons on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!