Salem State College Athletics

Salem, MA – Matt Genovese(Hingham, MA) iced a 4-2 victory over the UMass-Dartmouth Corsairs when he scored an empty net goal with 18 seconds left on the clock to give head coach Bill O’Neill’s Salem State College Vikings a MASCAC conference victory on Saturday afternoon at Rockett Arena.

The Vikings improved to 7-2-3 in the conference and 9-7-3 overall. The loss is the Corsairs second in a row as they fall to 7-12-1 on the season and 2-10-1 in the conference.

The goals were divided amongst four Salem State players. In addition to Genovese, three other Vikings players notched goals in the contest. The previous three points were scored by Chad Johnson (Lynn, MA), Dan Smolinsky (Plymouth, MA) and Nick Lampson (Groton, MA). The excellent play of the Salem State defense gave Vikings goaltender Sam Avione (Ste-Perpetue, Quebec) a relatively easy day in between the pipes. Avione saved 18 of the 20 shots he faced. UMass-Dartmouth tallied their goals from the play of Rob Dudley (Douglas, MA) and Chris Carpenter (Westford, MA). The opposite side of the ice was not as friendly toward Corsairs net minder Jon Dryjowicz-Burek (Ludlow, MA) who allowed four goals on 39 shots against.

Dudley began the day’s scoring with a power play goal assisted by Paul Moran (Rockville Center, NY). Johnson knotted the game up at one a piece 16:45 into the first when he wristed a feed from Alexander Molnar past the diving Corsairs net minder in a two on two situation. Salem State extended their lead to 2-1 the second period with a goal scored from the blade of Smolinsky. Much needed insurance was added for the Vikings just over four minutes into the third period by Lampson amidst a Salem State power-play opportunity.

UMass did not back down from the two-goal deficit. Carpenter cut the Salem state advantage back to one goal when he shot a loose puck past Avione with 5:04 left in regulation. The Corsairs continued to press and pulled their goalie for the final two minutes of the game. In the Vikings defensive zone Genovese blocked a shot with his body gained the puck in the neutral zone. He skated unscathed into the Corsairs end to send the puck into the open net with 18 seconds left on the clock.

The victory solidifies Salem State second place spot with 18 points in the inaugural MASCAC season. They are currently two points behind conference leader Fitchburg State who has amassed 20 points. The Vikings next opponent, the Plymouth State Panthers, are currently third in the conference with 16 points. Plymouth State can add a point to their total if they notch a victory Saturday afternoon against the Worcester State Lancers.

Salem State will take on the Panthers Thursday evening at 7 o’clock at Rockett Arena.