Vikings Cruise Past MCLA 6-1

SALEM, Mass. -- Salem State easily dispatched MCLA in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) tilt at Rockett Arena on Thursday evening. Freshman Jake Stapert had a pair of goals to help the Vikings improve to 3-2 overall and 3-1 in conference. The Trailblazers go to 1-3-1 and 0-3-1 in the MASCAC. 

Luke Day started the scoring for Salem State with a power play goal just 4:12 into the contest. Later, Mitch Wilkie kept the puck in the Vikings's zone and found Stapert in the slot for the freshman's first career goal at 12:29. Chase Conlon made it 3-0 when his shot caught the top corner from just inside the blue line at the 14:00 minute mark. Salem State, which outshot MCLA 10-7, exited the first with a 3-0 lead.  

Stapert intercepted a pass early in period two, giving him a clear path to the net as he easily beat Mathew Gover for Salem State's fourth goal just over seven minutes into the second. Joe Quigley added his fist career goal off a face off deep in the Trilablazers to make the score 5-0 in favor of Salem State at 8:12 of the second. Easton Moore got one back for the Trailblzers, taking a turnover and converting a breakaway into the first goal of the night for MCLA at 12:14 of the second. Despite being behind by four goals, MCLA held a 23-21 shot advantage after two.  

Zach Dill made it 6-1 in the third with Salem State's second power play goal of the night while freshman goalie Will Nepveu kept the Trailblazers off the scoreboard for the final period.

Landyn Greatorex and Ethan Demumbrum finished with two assists each for the Vikings. Nepveu stopped 27-of-28 shots to pick up the victory in his first career start. Gover ended the night making 26 saves for MCLA.