Three Third Period Goals Sink Vikings

Fitchburg, Mass. – Three third period goals by Fitchburg State lifted the Falcons to a 6-3 win over Salem State on Saturday. The Vikings slip to 5-11-1 and 4-7 in the MASCAC while the Falcons improve to 9-6-2 and 6-2-2 in conference.

The Falcons tipped the twin first at the six minute mark of the first period. Sophomore Kevin Perry (Hull, Mass.) collected the Connor McPherson (Clovis, Calif.) pass for his fifth goal of the season and the early 1-0 lead.

The Vikings answered with a pair of tallies to take a 2-1 advantage. Just thirty seconds later freshman Ryan Tierney (Methuen, Mass.) notched his first collegiate goal, then Tierney found linemate Joe Smith (Holbrook, Mass.) for his first of the season.  

With two minutes remaining in the frame the Falcon broke out of their zone with a two-on-one advantage. Streaking down the left wing junior Kyle Hillick (Byfield, Mass.) threaded a cross-ice pass to Ryan Murphy (Wayzata, Minn.) who blistered a wrist-shot past the Viking goaltender.

Senior Nick DiNicola (Wolcott, Conn.) regained the lead for the Falcons as he slipped the puck past junior Sean Cleary (Barnstable, Mass.) for his seventh goal of the season, giving the Falcons the 3-2 lead after one.

Salem knotted the game scoring the lone goal of the second stanza. Freshman Bret Parker (Hanover, Mass.) found Smith in front of the Falcons net his second goal of the game at the 16:06 mark.

The Falcons re-gained the lead just two minutes into the last period. DiNicola collected a juicy loose puck and deposited it into an open weak-side of the net for his second score of the game. Sophomore Sascha Figi (Kloten, Switzerland) and McPherson added assists on the goal. Figi added a pair of insurance goals, posting his 19^th goal of the season with a power-play marker at the 6:37 mark and an empty net goal to seal the victory, 6-3.

Fitchburg State goalkeeper Brian McGrath (Worcester, Mass.) registered 42 saves between the pipes for the Falcons, while his counterpart Cleary posted 45 saves. The Falcons held the advantage in shots (51-45 ), and converted 2-for-6 with the man-advantage.