Men’s Hockey Wins
WORCESTER — Marcuz Zelzer (Green Bay, WI) led the Salem State Vikings to a 7-0 shutout over the Worcester State Lancers Saturday night at the Hart Center with a 20 save performance.
The Vikings opened up the scoring early with a tip in goal from John Needham (Medford, Mass) at 2:50 of the first period. About seven minutes later Salem State would extend the lead after Daniel Campbell (Waterloo, Ont) took advantage of a three-on-two break and buried the one timer glove side and gave Salem a 2-0 lead. At 11:29 of the first period Salem would strike again with another tip in goal. Dan Holland (Woburn, Mass) was screening Worcester State goaltender, Max Kirkwood (Brunswick, OH), and was able to redirect the slap shot past the blocker and go into the intermission with a 3-0 lead.
The Lancers opened up the second period by attacking Salem State and forcing multiple turnovers but could not seem to take advantage of goal scoring opportunities. The Vikings about 7 minutes into the period would turn the momentum back to their side and extend their lead moments later. At 8:41 Cam Moniz (Seekonk, Mass) scored the fourth goal for Salem with shot through Kirkwood’s five-hole and tally his second point on the night. About four minutes later Mackenzie Cook (Reading, Mass) would add another goal for Salem State and extend the lead to 5-0 going into the third period.
The third period had two power play goals, both from Salem State. Ryan Wilkerson (Burlington, Ont) at 2:44 of the third period netted the first power play goal of the night less than 20 seconds in to the man advantage. Just over five minutes later Casey Miller (Billerica, Mass) scored the second power play goal of the night for the Vikings, which would be the seventh and last goal of the game.
Kirkwood was handed the loss and allowed 5 goals on 27 shots. The loss gives Kirkwood a 2-11-1 overall record on the season. Tyler Fallica (Coram, NY) came in to relieve Kirwood in the second period and allowed 2 goals on 13 shots.
Miller led the Vikings with 3 points on the night and was credited with a goal and three assists.
The Lancers after the loss are now 4-13-1, 1-10-1 on the season. The win improves Salem State to 14-5-0, 10-2 on the season.
The Vikings next match up is Thursday at Westfield State University for a MASCAC matchup.
The Lancers are back in action Thursday against UMASS Dartmouth for an 8:30 puck drop at the Hart Center on the Campus of the College of the Holy Cross.
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Women’s Hockey Loses
SALEM — Summer Britton (Fairbanks, Alaska) scored midway through the second period and goalie Kami Weiner (Elk Grove, III.) earned a shutout as the Johnson & Wales Wildcats captured a 2-0 victory over the Salem State Vikings on Friday night at Rockett Arena. The win gives Johnson & Wales a 4-15 overall mark and 4-6 record in the Colonial Hockey Conference. Salem State goes to 3-14 and 2-6 in conference.
The Vikings controlled the tempo in the opening 20 minutes, but they were unable to capitalize, as Kami Weiner stopped 14 shots in the period, including two breakaway opportunities and the teams headed into the intermission in a scoreless tie.
In the second, Britton broke the tie as she fought for a loose puck in front on the net and slipped a shot past Jenn Toussaint (Reading, MA) for a 1-0 lead. Weiner held the advantage for the Wildcats as she made a couple of key saves to keep Johnson & wales in the lead heading into the third.
The Vikings continued to carry possession into the third and had a couple of opportunities to tie, but Kristin McKenzie (Arlington, MA) was stopped on a breakaway early in the period, and Kelsey Russell(Arlington, Mass.) had a prime scoring opportunity with just over three minutes remaining, but her shot sailed just high of the crossbar.
Salem State pulled their goalie in the final minute, and Alexis Harle (Calgary, Alberta) iced the game when she corralled a loose puck and deposited it into the net with just eight seconds remaining to secure the 2-0 win.
Weiner ended with 32 stops while Toussaint made14 saves for the Vikings, who outshot while Wildcats 32-16.
Salem State will travel to Stevenson University for a game on Friday at 1:30 PM. The Wildcats will host Sacred Heart University at 6:05 PM on Friday.
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Men’s Basketball Wins at Framingham State
FRAMINGHAM – The Framingham State University men’s basketball team mounted a second half comeback as they connected on seven second half threes, but it was not enough as they were defeated 64-54 by Salem State University in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action this afternoon at the Athletic Center.
With the win, the Vikings remain unbeaten in the MASCAC at 7-0 and are now 13-7 overall, while the Rams slip to 4-15 on the year and are now 1-6 in the conference.
With the game tied at four in the opening minutes of the contest, the Vikings rattled off a 10 minute, 20-3 run highlighted by a Shayheim Davis (Boston, Mass.) bucket in transition and jumper from junior Marcus Faison (Cambridge, Mass.) to open up a 24-7 advantage. The Rams countered with a spurt of their own capped by a three from senior Joe McCabe (Canton, Mass.) to head to the locker room trailing 34-20.
The Vikings extended the lead to 18 points just over three minutes into the second half, but the Rams would not go away mounting a 17-4 run fueled by their shooting from behind the arc to cut the deficit to 42-37 with just over 13 minutes remaining. Junior Tim Mangano (Winchester, Mass.) drained a pair from long range during the spurt, while junior Patrick Gould (Quincy, Mass.) and senior Tim McCarthy (Wilmington, Mass.) each connected for one.
The Vikings pushed the lead back to 11 with a 6-0 run of their own that included a pair of buckets from Drew Healy (Lowell, Mass.), but the Rams cut the deficit back to single digits (59-51) on another Mangano three with just over a minute remaining. After a pair of Shaquan Murray free throws, senior Jacek Louisville (Worcester, Mass.) banked in a three to make the score 61-54, but the Vikings would score the final three points of the game from the line to seal the victory.
Faison led the Vikings with a double double effort of a game-high 24 points and a game-best 20 rebounds. Faison connected on 11-of-16 from the field with a pair of steals. Murray was the only other Viking to record double figures with 14 point, while Davis finished with eight points and six boards.
The Rams were led by a career-high 19 points from Mangano who connected on 3-of-5 from behind the arc. Sophomore Tony Alexandre (Hyde Park, Mass.) finished with a double double of his own as he scored 12 and grabbed a team-best 13 boards.
Both teams resume MASCAC action next Wednesday evening with the Rams hosting Bridgewater State at 8 p.m. and the Vikings traveling to Worcester State for a 7:30 p.m. game which will be played at WPI.
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Women’s Basketball Falls at Worcester State
FRAMINGHAM – The Framingham State women’s basketball team defeated Salem State in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action by a score of 60-41 Saturday afternoon in Framingham. The victory is the Rams fifth straight as they improve to 14-5 and 6-1 in league play. The Vikings slip to 6-14 and 2-5 in conference action.
The Rams were led by junior Monta Connolly (Lynn, Mass.) who registered a double-double with a game-high 17 points and 10 rebounds while dishing out 6 assists. Junior Alycia Rackliffe (Feeding Hills, Mass.) scored 12 points with 11 boards and sophomore Lauren Donahue (Attleboro, Mass.) added 11 points and 6 assists.
The Vikings were paced by junior Kaitlyn Bryan (Lowell, Mass.) with 12 points and freshman Tyra Scott (Methuen, Mass.) who scored 10 points and collected a game-high 17 rebounds.
The Rams took an early lead scoring the first 6 points but it would seem the two teams would trade scores for much of the first half of play. The Vikings took the lead halfway through the 2nd quarter on a Bryan layup to go up 19-18. The Rams called timeout and then rattled off a 12-2 run to end the half and enter the breakup 30-21. FSU’s run continued in the 3rd frame as they scored the first eight points on two buckets each by Donahue and Connolly and would find themselves leading 40-21 halfway through the 3rd. The Vikings would try to chip away but never got the defecit closer than 12 points.
Neither team shot particularly well from the floor as the Rams shot 28.9 percent while the Vikings shot 27.4 percent. FSU was able to convert 4-of-19 from downtown to Salem’s 1 trey in 13 attempts.
The Rams will return to the floor on Wednesday, February 3rd when they host Bridgewater State in MASCAC action at 6:00 p.m. The Vikings will travel to Worcester State on the same day.
Information supplied by Salem State Sports Information Office
