Falcons Skate Past Vikings

SALEM, Mass. -- Rece Bergeman (Newark, Del.) notched a hat-trick to lead Fitchburg State to a 7-2 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) victory over Salem State on Thursday evening at Rocket Arena. The Falcons improve to 2-1 on the year and even their conference record at 1-1. The Vikings slide to 0-3 and 0-2 in the MASCAC.

Bergeman opened the scoring for Fitchburg State as Anthony Ceolin (Simsbury, Conn.) setup Bergeman for a one-timer, that beat goalie Aaron Mercer (Corner Brook, Newfoundland) on his glove-side for a 1-0 lead. Salem State 's Zach Dill (Lake Tahoe, Calif.) answered for the Vikings, going five-hole for his first career collegiate goal. Christian Halbig broke the tie for the Falcons with a wrister that deflected in past Mercer at 15:17 for a 2-1 first period lead.

Dill appeared to tie the game for Salem State early in the second as a turnover by Fitchburg State in their own end gave the Vikings an easy shorthanded opportunity. However, the linesman ruled the puck did not cross the goal line and play resumed.

The Falcons took advantage of the momentum swing as Bergeman connected for his second goal of the game, putting home a rebound on a 5-on-3 advantage for a 3-1 Falcons' lead at 9:48 of the second. Antoine Gignac (Quebec City, Que.) made it 4-1 with a shot just outside the right face-off circle just after Fitcburg State's power-play expired. 

Bergeman added his third of the game off a face-off, making the score 5-1 in favor of the Falcons at 5:24 of the third. Peyton Hughes (Northridge, Calif.) countered for Salem State with his first of the year less than a minute later to cut the deficit to 5-2. However, Michael Macchioni (North Kingstown, R.I.) and Hunter Fortin (Westerville, Ohio) added back-to-back goals for Fitchburg State to put the game out of reach.

Max Macchioni (North Kingstown, R.I.) made 31 saves in the win while Mercer stopped 32-of-39 shots in net for the Vikings, who were outshot 39-33 for the game.