Rivier Doubles Up Salem State

Jose Rodriguez '24, Staff Writer | Media & Communications

SALEM, Mass.- On Saturday afternoon, Rivier University emerged victorious with a 4-2 win over Salem State at Rockett Arena. The Raiders now hold a record of 3-1, while Salem State's record slipped to 1-3.  

Salem State was looking for the weekend sweep as they had already defeated the Raiders in Nashua, N.H. the previous night by a score of 2-1. The victory was highlighted by Celeste Scoppettuolo's (Revere, Mass.) first career goal and alternative captain Jessica Robert's (North Reading, Mass.) first goal of the season.  

Before the game, coach Kizzie spoke about his first career victory as a Viking. "Definitely nice to get it out of the way and know you are not chasing it. I am just focusing on the season, on the details to get prepared to be the best that we can be as we approach February and March." 

The Raiders started out strong by attacking the Vikings' zone. Despite some tough saves by Kaia Hollingsworth (Methuen, Mass.), Rivier couldn't score in the first period. Salem State had their chances too, but they couldn't execute their plays.  

The first period saw both teams getting a power play opportunity, but they couldn't capitalize on them. Alexis Thomas (Barnstable, Mass.) was called for cross-checking at 5:55, followed by Rivier Grace Arenault (Westford, Mass.) for roughing at 7:22 time of the game. Hollingsworth saved all seven shots, while Rachel Symmes (Swedesboro, N.J.) saved all six shots during the period.  

In the second period, Salem State was looking to score quickly, but Raider's goalkeeper, Rachel Symmes, made a great save to deny Vikings' captain Deanna Bosco (North Andover, Mass.) from scoring.  The Vikings' Holly Catarius (Holden, Mass.)  tried to capitalize on a turnover, but her shot was saved by Symmes. Rebecca McKelvey  (Barre, Vt.) tried to score back-to-back shots, but she was denied by Hollingsworth.  

Celeste went to the box for two minutes, giving the Raiders a five-on-four advantage, but they couldn't execute their play. Robert was looking to score but hit the crossbar. 

Rivier got another power play opportunity when Isabelle Besser (Scituate, R.I.) went to the box at 13:46 of the penalty. Raider's Molley Duckesher (Richland, Mich.) scored a power play goal, beating Hollingsworth towards the net, with the time of the goal at 15:16 of the second period. Late into the second period, Catarius tried to score on a wrap-around on the right side of the net, but Symmes made an excellent save. 

Scoppettuolo went to the box for cross-checking at 18:40 of the penalty, giving Rivier another power play opportunity. At the end of the second period, Hollingsworth had saved 17 of 16 shots while Symmes had saved all 15 shots. Rivier was 1 for 4 on the power play opportunities while the Vikings were 0 for 1. Raider had won 21 face offs compared to Vikings' 18. 

Salem State was looking to bounce back in the third period after being down 1-0 heading into the final twenty minutes of regulation. They didn't waste any time, with Catherine Lawrence (Guilford, Conn.) sprinting full speed and beating Symmes for the first goal for the Vikings, just a minute and twenty seconds into the last period of regulation. 

After the game Lawrence talked about the goal. "Honestly I just wanted to get the puck deep and on net because we really just wanted to be even on the playing field, getting a tie game there."  

Lawrence tried to score her second goal of the game, but Symmes denied her with a glove save on the right side of the net. Rivier was on a two-on-one breakaway, but Hollingsworth saved Brianna Rumptz's (Troy, Mich.) shot. Midway through the period, Briana Paxson (Eagle River, Alaska.) scored the second goal of the game for Rivier, giving them a 2-1 lead at 10:01 in regulation, but it didn't last for long. Thirty-nine seconds later, Meghan Azzato (Falmouth, Mass.) scored to tie the game at two. 

After the game coach Kizzie spoke about the ability of his team to come back twice during the game. "It shows the resilience, it shows the compete level that we have been talking about to make sure that you are competing… make sure that you doing everything that you can to keep us involved and that's the character that we have to have. As the season progresses, even if we are down by a goal we are going to fight, comeback, and be engaged and be competitive."  

Heather McHatton (Ashburnham, Mass.) scored for Rivier, but the referee waved it off, as Aislinn Bennett (Milford, Mass.) went to the penalty box for two minutes for tripping, but Rebecca McKelvey (Barre, Vt.) scored on a power play goal to put the Raiders ahead 3-2. Late in the game, Salem State was looking to tie it up, but Symmes made some great saves. Coach Kizzie called a timeout, and the Vikings were looking to tie the game, but unfortunately, they gave up an empty-netter, which sealed the deal for Rivier.

Symmes saved 24 of 26 shots, while Hollingsworth saved 26 of 29 shots. Salem State will now travel to Elmira, N.Y. for a NEHC conference game against the Elmira Mammoths, with the game scheduled to start at 6:00 pm.