Warriors Defeat Vikings

Jose Rodriguez '24, Staff Writer | Media & Communications

SALEM, Mass.- Mike Stevenson recorded six goals to give Eastern Connecticut a 14-6 Little East Conference (LEC) victory over Salem State on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Field. The Warriors improve to  4-6, 1-1 in conference while the Vikings drop to 4-5, 0-2.

How Did It Happen?

•  Eastern Connecticut seized an early opportunity and took the lead with a goal from Connor Chirico (Milford, Mass.) even though they were down a man. The goal gave the Warriors a 1-0 lead.
• The Vikings swiftly responded and managed to tie the game just 36 seconds later at the 11:13 mark. Connor Vittands (Gloucester, Mass.) made a brilliant move and skillfully put the ball inside the net, with Payton Cabral (Lancaster, Mass.) providing the assist. 
• Cameron Collins (Peabody, Mass.) scored a goal with the assistance of Vittands, which gave them a 2-1 lead. However, the Warriors were not to be outdone, and they managed to even the score at two, at the 7:48 mark.
• The Vikings launched an aggressive attack that ultimately yielded positive results when Vittands, scored the second goal, to give Salem State a 3-2 edge.
• During the last 3 minutes and 17 seconds of the period, the Warriors scored two goals to take the lead by a score of 4-3. 
• Andrew Pendagast (Southbury, Conn.) scored in the early stages of the second period, with the assistance of Zacharie Appolon (Stamford, Conn.)
• Salem State was looking to get back in the game and make it a one-goal game when Cameron Smith (Beverly, Mass.) scored as they were a down a man to make it 5-4 at the 7:32 mark.
• At the start of the third period, the Warriors didn't waste any time as 37 seconds into the period Stevenson scored on an assist of Appolon.
• Gabe Roman (Meriden, Conn.) scored on an assist from Appolon at the 7:02 mark extending the Warriors lead to three.
• Eddings was inches away from reducing the deficit to two and Vittands hit the post as the Vikings missed two chance to reduce the deficit to two.
• At the 3:10 mark Salem State's Vittands scored from the right side of the net with Collins credited with the assist to make it two-goal game as they were up a man.
• The Warriors added one more to go up 8-5 heading into the final 15 minutes of regulation.
• Eastern Connecticut was up a man when Mike Stevenson (Shelton, Conn.) managed to score the ninth goal of the game, which was assisted by Brycen Kennedy (Southington, Conn.) at 11:53. The Warriors then added two more in a span of five seconds. 
• During the final period of regulation the Warriors managed to score six times, which was highlighted by Stevenson's hat trick.   

Behind The Numbers?

• Stevenson scored five times for Eastern Connectucit while Sean Filley (Guilford, Conn.) had seven groundballs; Erick Suzio (Meriden, Mass.) had three caused turnovers.
• Vittands had three goals while Collins had four groundballs for the Vikings.  Eddings, Glen-Thanh Doan (Lexington, Mass.) and Jack Seward-Dailey (Sheffield, Mass.) each recorded two caused turnovers.  
• Gregory Helinski (Shelton, Conn.) stopped 15 shots in the win while Ryan Cohen (Bedford, Mass.) made 18 saves for Salem State.