Dill's Hat-Trick Leads Vikings Past Rams

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- Zach Dill's first career hat-trick lifted Salem State to a 5-3 MASCAC victory over Framingham State on Thursday evening at Loring Arena. Keagan O'Donoghue added three assists as the Vikings picked up their first conference win of the season (3-9-0, 1-6). The Rams slip to 3-7-1, 2-4-1.

Dill opened the game with back-to-back scores, the second coming on the power-play with 7:09 left in the first. Framingham State cut the deficit to a goal just over a minute later as Devante Dixon found the back of the net, making the score 2-1. Jason Tynan increased the lead to 3-1, finishing off a pass from Peyton Hughes to move the lead back to two goals. Dill's third goal of the game came just :32 seconds into the second, tipping in a pass from Erik Larsson to account for the only score of the second.  

Larsson increased the lead to 5-1 with an assist from Dill at the 12:55 mark of the third before two late goals in the final minute by Kaleb Kinskey and Ashton Collazo made the final 5-3. 

Aaron Mercer earned his third win in net (3-9), making 20 saves. Blake Carlson (3-4-1) took the loss, stopping 20 shots before being replaced by Trevor Stenberg in the third. Salem State outshot Framingham State 34-23 for the game.