Salem State College Athletics

Salem, MA - Freshman John Vets (Hamden, Connecticut) broke a 4-4 tie with 2:13 remaining in overtime to send the Fitchburg State Falcons (10-3-1) to victory in a Massachusetts State Athletic Conference matchup against the Salem State Vikings (7-6-1) inside Rockett Arena on Thursday night.

The Falcons improved to 6-2 in the MASCAC, and sit one point behind the Vikings in third place, which are 6-2-1. The Westfield State Owls which are 6-0-1, are at the top of the MASCAC leader board.

The first period was full of offense for both contenders. Fitchburg’s Chris Riggs (Sewell, NJ) found the back of the net in the first 25 seconds to give the Falcons and early 1-0 lead. Down by two at the 15:46 mark of the first period Salem State Co-captain Damen Nissula (Gardner, MA) cut into the deficit with a feed from fellow Viking Nick Lampson (Groton, MA). Three minutes later Christopher MacInnis (Waltham, MA) tied the game at two-apiece with his shot that skated past Falcons goalkeeper Robert Vorse (Leominster, MA).

At the 19:16 Matt Johnson (Lynn, MA) committed a tripping penalty to stop an open breakaway by the Falcons. Off the face-off Tucker Callen (Annadle, NJ) slapped a goal past Vikings goaltender Sam Avione (Ste-Perpetue, Quebec) to reclaim the lead for Fitchburg State. Then with time dwindling in the first period, Salem State’s Michael Genovese took a shot from the right wing circle that found the back of the net to tie the game at 3-3.

The second period saw the Vikings control the puck for most of the session. They outshot the Falcons 15-4 in the second period and scored a goal from the blade of Ian Flannagan (New Hampton, NH) for Salem State’s first lead of the game, 4-3. The play of Vorse (35 of 39) in between the pipes kept Fitchburg alive to fight in the third period. Nine seconds into the third period Chris Costigan (Salem, NH) send the puck past Avione (18 of 23) from the slot for his third point and second goal of the game to knot the score at four.

The Vikings outshot the Falcons 38-21 in regulation. The Salem offense matched Fitchburg shot for shot in overtime, however Vets capitalized on a rebound to slip the puck past Avione for the win.

The Salem State Vikings will take on the 1-12-1 Framingham State Rams at Salem’s Rockett Arena at 2:00 pm on January 23.