Salem State Wins on Senior Night

Jose Rodriguez '24, Staff Writer | Media & Communications

SALEM, Mass. -- Salem State defeated Fitchburg State 4-3 in MASCAC action at Alumni Field on Wednesday night. The Vikings improve their record to 6-9, 4-5 while the Falcons slip to 3-12, 2-7. 

Before the game, seniors Mikayla Mason (Beverly, Mass), Melanie Mason (Beverly, Mass.), and Kaia Hollingsworth (Methuen, Mass.), were honored for their dedication and commitment to the program. 

After the game, coach Atkinson expressed what the seniors meant to the program. "Kaia came to play tonight. She scored the first two goal[s] and that was perfect, she is awesome… Mikayla Mason is awesome, her growth over the four years has been incredible. Just the way she plays, how she changes her stick work. It has been great how she works with her team… Mel[anie] definitely, I will say is the hardest worker on the team right now. She carries us throughout, pushes us defensively as well as supports everyone and telling everyone what they have to do. All three will be huge losses, but she has grown so much during the four years," 

After the game Hollingsworth, expressed the memories she had during the last four years as a Viking. "It is just awesome, the team is so welcoming. It is fun to build the chemistry with each other after every game. We just keep getting better. It is a team game and I love being part of this community."  

Fitchburg scored the first goal of the game when Autumn Tibbetts (Luneburg, Mass.) found the net, assisted by Alexis Raymond (Tewksbury, Mass.). Despite being down by a point, the Vikings bounced back quickly when Hollingsworth scored on an assist from Melanie Mason. 

After the game, Hollingsworth spoke about her  first goal of the game on senior night. "I was in a good spot. I stayed in front of the net, crashing the net and Melanie made a perfect pass right to me. I kind of boxed out the defender and saw the net… it was a whole team effort."  

Later in the second period, Hollingsworth scored her second goal of the game, putting Salem State ahead 2-1. 

During the first two periods, the Falcons' Jenna Morse (Leominster, Mass.) saved two of the four shots on goal, while Izzy Mosley (Middleborough, Mass.) saved five of six shots. 

After Fitchburg tied the game at two, Salem State attacked the Falcons' zone but couldn't capitalize. Tibbets scored her second goal of the game, tying the score at two goals apiece in the third.

Late in the period, the Vikings took the lead again when Allison Thomas (Craver, Mass.) scored on an assist from Mikalya Mason. 

In the fourth period, Salem State was looking to extend to their lead and Mikayla Mason scored on an assist by Aleena Firth from about 15 feet away.

As the game progressed, Mosley made a kick save that prevented the Falcons from scoring again. A few minutes later, Fitchburg State made it a one-point game when Tibbets scored on the left side of the net. Both teams then became competitive and aggressive, attacking each other's zones, but it was the Vikings, who eventually took home the win. 

Morse finished the night saving two of six shots, while Mosley saved an impressive 12 of 15 shots. 

Salem State will conclude their regular season on Saturday afternoon, traveling to Worcester State for MASCAC action. Game time is at noon.