Salem State College Athletics

Salem, Mass. – Salem State senior Chris MacInnis (Waltham, MA) scored two goals to lead the Salem State Vikings to an 8-2 conference win over the Worcester State Lancers Saturday afternoon at Rockett Arena. The Vikings improve to (6-2-1,5-0-1) on the season while Worcester State fell to (3-7,1-5).

The Lancers and senior goaltender Andrew Evans, (Cromwell, CT) enjoyed a two-goal lead and a shutout until midway through the second period. Vikings freshman defender Dan Smolinsky (Plymouth, MA) scored the first goal of his Salem State career to cut the defecit to 2-1 at the 10:20 mark of the second period. Matt Johnson (Lynn, MA) quickly tied the game three minutes later and the eventual game-winner came from the blade of  MacInnis with under a minute remaining in the period.. McInnis took the feed from Salem State point leader Nick Lampson (Groton, MA) and buried the puck behind the Worcester State net-minder.

Head Coach Bill O’Neill’s Vikings kept the offense on pace. Salem State’s offense produced five more unanswered  goals in the third period. Evans, 29-35 in save opportunities was lifted by Lancers Head Coach John Guiney early in the third period after allowing Salem to score two quick goals. Three goals were allowed by the Lancers substitute goalie, Freshman Zach Hansen (Dexter, MI).

Salem’s defense was a perfect match for the offensive play. The Vikings allowed only one shot on net in the third period. Salem’s Freshman goalkeeper Sam Avione (Ste-Perpetue , Quebec), while making a few sensational saves earned the first win of his Salem State career. Avione saved seven of the nine shots the Lancers had on net.

The Vikings are unbeaten in conference play and sit atop the leader board with a conference record of 5-0-1. This is the third straight loss for the Lancers who now sit at 1-5 in the conference. Salem State’s next game comes after the New Year when they take on the Colby College Mules at 6:00 pm on January 4, 2010 at Salem State College’s Rockett Arena.