Vikings Stun Corsairs in Overtime, Hofford Nets Game-Winner

Vikings Stun Corsairs in Overtime, Hofford Nets Game-Winner

SALEM, Mass. - Callum Hofford (Woodbridge, Ontario) scored the game-winning goal in overtime as the Salem State Vikings rallied late, overcoming a two-goal deficit to stun MASCAC foe UMass Dartmouth 3-2 at Richard H. Rockett Arena on Thursday night. Hofford recovered a loose puck and buried the game winner just over a minute into overtime. Salem State goes to 3-11-2 and 3-6 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference. UMass Dartmouth drops to 5-9-2 and 4-4-1 in the conference.

Five minutes into the first period, Dillon Radin (Long Beach, N.Y.) put the Corsairs on the board first. Steven Leonard (Rockaway Park, N.Y.) intercepted the puck from Derek Scoggins (Anchorage, Alaska) in the Vikings' zone. Leonard sent a pass to Radin up ahead and he tipped the puck into the back of the net to put UMass Dartmouth on top 1-0.

2:53 into the second period, Spencer DeRidder (Rochester, N.Y.) almost scored attempting to wrap the puck around goalie Chris Stangarone (White Plains, N.Y.). DeRidder couldn't get the puck to cross the goal line as Stangarone defended the goal.

In the second, Eric Bolden (Oswego, Ill.) received a pass and raced ahead of the Vikings' defense. Bolden took a shot but it was deflected by Sean Cleary (Barnstable, Mass.). Steven Leonard got the rebound and shot it towards the right side of the goal to make it a 2-0 game with 11:42 remaining in the period.

Salem State had numerous opportunities to score in the second period, but Stangarone played flawlessly.

At 11:11 in the third period, Alex Wisnes (Hanover, Mass.) scored the Vikings' first goal of the night as they cut the lead down to 2-1. Ryan Tierney (Methuen, Mass.) set up behind UMass Dartmouth's net and passed it inside to Wisnes. Wisnes got the puck and shot it on the weak side to keep the Vikings' hopes alive.

Cam Ryan's (Arlington, Mass.) late goal in the third period tied the game 2-2 for Salem State. With 2:19 to go, the Vikings were pressuring Stangarone with a number of shots and Ryan was able to find a gap to level the score.

Salem State survived an early power play by the Corsairs in overtime. Just 1:21 into the extra period, Richard Coyle (Weymouth, Mass.) wanted to shoot the puck, but never had full control.  Hofford recovered it and shot a one-timer in for the game-winner.

Cleary earned the win, allowing two goals with 24 saves. Stangarone played well through the first and second period, but the Vikings were able to break through the wall scoring three unanswered goals. Stangarone completed the game with three goals allowed and 38 saves made.