UMass Boston Edges Salem State 2-1

SALEM, Mass. – Kelsey Ryan (Burlington, Mass.) and Emily Franciszkowicz (Oak Park, III.) each scored a goal as UMass Boston defeated Salem State 2-1 on Saturday afternoon at Rockett Arena. The Beacons jump to 2-3 and even their record at 2-2 in the New England Hockey Conference (NEHC). The Vikings dip to 0-4 in the league. 

Despite being outshot 7-2 in the first period, Salem State's Tea Miles (Northfield, Vt.) had the first good scoring chance, ripping a shot on a Salem State power play that bounced out of goalie Victoria Kennedy's (Winthrop, Mass.) glove. Hannah Aveni (Melrose, Mass.) stood tall in goal, helping thwart a UMass Boston power play late in the first period to keep the game scoreless heading into the second period.

Aveni kept the game 0-0, denying the Beacons' leading scorer (Key Largo, Fla.) on a 2-on-1 early in the second.  A one-timer by Ryan broke the stalemate at the 11:53 mark of the second. UMass Boston extended the lead just over thirty second later as Franciszkowicz picked up a loose puck and used her backhand to beat Aveni for a 2-0 advantage. The Beacons racked up a 25-0 advantage in shots in the second.

A turnover led to Salem State's first goal as Carolyn Mahoney's (Melrose, Mass.) wrister made it a 2-1 game 1:38 into the third period on a power play. Despite added pressure by the Vikings' offense in the third, Kennedy held off Salem State, recording 10 saves in the period, finishing with 11 for the game. Aveni made 30 saves in two periods of work before Kaia Hollingsworth (Methuen, Mass.) made 10 stops in the final frame for the Vikings.