Ice Hockey Downs Vikings In Mascac Action

Zapata nets two goals for Green and Gold

Salem, MA. The Fitchburg State ice hockey team defeated the Vikings of Salem State, 4-3 this evening in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action from the Rockett Ice Arena.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 4, Salem State 3

Records: Fitchburg State (2-1-1, 1-0-1 MASCAC) I Salem State (1-2-0, 1-1-0 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Fitchburg State opened the scoring at the 14:19 mark of the first period as junior Samuel Rennick (Salisbury, MA) collected a feed from sophomore Jeremy Maillet (Leominster, MA) and deposited a shot into the left side of the net for his second tally on the year for the 1-0 margin.

In the middle frame, the Falcons doubled the lead (2-0) just 1:08 into the stanza when freshman Kristopher Zapata (Cherry Hill, NJ) blasted a shot into the right side of the net for his second goal of the 2023 campaign as classmates Jackson Collins (Wake Forest, NC) and Andrew Woloszyn (Windham, NH) assisted on the play.

Salem State cut the deficit to 2-1 40 seconds later with sophomore Landyn Greatorex (Reading, MA) receiving a feed from Christopher Dowd (Danville, NH) and newcomer Carson James (Falmouth, MA) and struck for his second tally of the season.

The Vikings knotted the score at 2-2 with freshman Carson Whitman (Boston, MA) foumd the back the of the net for his second goal on the year.

In the third period of play, the Green and Gold regained the lead seven minutes into the frame with Zapata netting his second marker of the contest with assists from junior Jack Johansen (Milford, NH) and freshman Hunter Dunn (Douglas, MA) for the 3-2 edge.

The Green and Gold secured the victory with just under nine minute remaining regulation as freshman Michael Imala (Oak Lawn, IL) settled a pass from Rennick and netted his first collegiate tally, resulting in the 4-3 final.

By the Numbers

• 66th meeting between the Falcons and the Vikings on the ice with Fitchburg State 20-39-7 all-time when taking on Salem State
• Fitchburg State held a 37-28 advantage in shots
• Salem State went 1-for-2 with the man advantage
• Sophomore Max Macchioni (North Kingstown, RI) stopped 25 shots for the Falcons
• Senior Aaron Mercer (Corner Brook, NF) made 33 saves for the Vikings
• Newsomer Micheal Imala notched his first collegiate goal for the Green and Gold

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Saturday as they host the Corsairs of UMass Dartmouth for a MASCAC clash, starting at 4:00PM.

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