Salem State Wins MASCAC Opener Over Westfield State

WESTFIELD, Mass. -- Salem State picked up the first career win for new head coach Chris MacInnis on Thursday evening, defeating Westfield State 6-2 at Amelia Park Arena. The Vikings (1-1, 1-0) won their Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) opener while handing the Owls (2-1, 0-1) their first loss of the season.

Erik Larsson scored twice while Peyton Hughes,  Luke Pepin, Luke Day and Skylar Miller all contributed a goal apiece.

The Vikings dominated play in the first period, outshooting Westfield State 19-7, but it wan't until Hughes scored with just :09 seconds remaining that Salem State finally put a point on the scoreboard. Larsson extended the lead to 2-0 early in the second scoring on breakaway, and easily beating goalie Kevin Chandler for the Vikings' second goal. Pepin made it 3-0 in favor of Salem State, scoring a power play goal at 11:34 before Larsson added his second of the game just:16 seconds later allowing the Vikings to exit the second with a 4-0 lead.

Miller made it 5-0 early in the third before  Christopher Miraldo picked up a loose puck at the blueline and stuffed it in to trim the lead to 5-1. The Owls cut it to 5-2 with 8:46 to play with Gianluca Marini tallying after Cooper Board slid the puck through the crease off the rebound of Tomas Muller's shot. Salem State tacked on a late marker from Luke Day to cap the scoring.

Aaron Mercer made 29 saves for Salem State in the win. Westfield State got 25 saves from Chandler and 13 from Duncan Nichols-Delay, who replaced Chandler in the second. The Vikings outshot the Owls 44-31 on the evening.