Panthers Topple Vikings 8-1

SALEM, Mass - Matt Volonnino's (Hackettstown, N.J.) hat-trick and assist led the Plymouth State Panthers' to an 8-1 win over the Salem State Vikings on Thursday evening at Rockett Arena. The eight goals are the most the Panthers have scored this season. Plymouth State remains undefeated on the season improving their record to 5-0-1 and 3-0-1 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) while the Vikings dip to 1-4 on the year and 1-3 in conference.

In the first period, Plymouth State went ahead 1-0 when Will Vanderveen (Troy, Mich.) took a shot and JR Barone (West Chester, Pa.) capitalized off the rebound slipping the puck under Sean Cleary's (Barnstable, Mass.) legs.

Later in the first period, Peter Laviolette (Nashville, Tenn.) circled around Cleary and found the weak, right side of the net giving Plymouth State a 2-0 lead.

Jarrett Slear (West Chester, Pa.) picked up a slashing foul and Billy McGwin (Rochester N.Y.) was called for tripping. With those two penalties, it became a four on four. Tim Perron (Northborough, Mass.) took a shot and Cleary lost control of the puck allowing Ludvig Steenberg (Stockholm, Sweden) to score extending the Panthers' lead to three goals late in the first period.

In the second period, Ryan Stevens (Colleyville, Texas) passed it to Volonnino on the left side of the ice. Volonnino took a slap shot that hit just under the crossbar giving the Panthers a commanding 4-0 lead.

A penalty was called on Laviolette for roughing which opened up a power play for the Vikings. Salem State took advantage when Matt Yianacopolus (Wakefield, Mass.) took a wrist shot that soared into the back of the net score putting Plymouth State ahead 4-1 with just over three minutes left in the second.

However, Plymouth State took a 5-1 lead less that twenty seconds later when Volonnino, on a breakaway found a crease and slipped in his second goal of the game.

In the third period, Plymouth State tallied three goals from Victor Bergstrom (Angelholm, Sweden), Barone, and Volonnino as the Panthers skated to an 8-1 victory.

Evan Morelli (Reading, Mass.) saved 33 shots for the Panthers and Cleary stopped 34 shots for the Vikings. Olivier Lacroix (Montreal, Quebec) saved two shots for the Vikings after entering the game in the third..

The Vikings will look to turn it around against Fitchburg State on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.