Owls Top Vikings 2-0

SALEM, Mass. - Westfield State blanked Salem State 2-0 as goaltender Thierry Messervier (Montreal, Quebec) stopped all 19 shots on Thursday evening.  

The Owls progress to 11-6-3 on the season and 8-3-2 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC). The Vikings drop to 6-13-1 on the year and 5-8 in conference.

In the first period, Rob Neuwirth's (Zlin, Czech Republic) shot was saved by Sean Cleary (Barnstable, Mass.), but Paul Frys (Portland, Oreg.) recovered the puck and tipped it home to put Westfield State up 1-0 with 8:35 remaining.

Both teams went scoreless in the second period, as both teams missed prime scoring chances. Francois-Xavier Girard (St. Lazare, Quebec) was called for interference giving the Vikings the first of just two power play opportunities. However, Salem State could not take advantage. Later, the Owls had a three on one opportunity, but Pearce Vance (Berkley, Mich.) was denied by Cleary.

In the third period, Dylan Gatto (Jacksonville, Fla.) was skating forward on the right side and made a quick pass in the middle to Pearce Vance. Vance found a hole and scored, extending the Owls lead to 2-0 with 12:33 left in the game.

In the closing minute of the game, the Vikings pulled their goalie after Gatto picked up a penalty for high sticking. Salem State had a six on four advantage the rest of the way, but couldn't find the back of the net with back-to-back misses from Matt Yianacopolus (Wakefield, Mass.) and Joe Smith (Holbrook, Mass.).

Westfield State went 0-1 on the power play while the Vikings were 0-2. For the game, Cleary saved a total of 25 shots.