Spartans Hold Off Vikings' Rally

SALEM, Mass. --  Cam Frankenhoff scored seven goals as Vermont-Castleton held off a furious fourth quarter rally by Salem State to earn a 17-15 victory over the Vikings in Little East action at Alumni Field on Saturday afternoon. The Vikings trailed by as many as eight goals in the final period, pulling to within one score with 3:04 remaining. However, Braydon Goddard found Jordan Damske just above the crease with :24 seconds remaining to ice the game for the Spartans. Vermont-Castleton is now 2-7 and 1-1 in the LEC. Salem State goes to 6-4 and 0-3.  

Cam Frankenhoff added two assists for the Spartans while Liam Evarts and Goddard scored four goals apiece with Goddard also registering four assists. Carter Frankenhoff had a goal and three assists.

Landon Rice had four goals and three assists to lead the Vikings. Fisher Gadbois and Grady Smith produced three goals each and Cameron Collins had a pair of goals and three assists. 

How it Happened

• Cam Frankenhoff had two first quarter goals for the Spartans as his second gave Castleton a 3-1 lead with 2:19 remaining. Cameron Collins closed the gap with his first goal of the game just over a minute later as the Spartans took a 3-2 lead into the second. 
• Salem State tied the game early in the second on a goal by Grady Smith. Vermont-Castleton closed the second with six unanswered goals to take a commanding 9-3 lead into halftime. Liam Evarts and Cam Frankenhoff each notched two goals in the run.
• Landon Rice and Cam Frankenhoff exchanged goals to begin the third, but the Viking scored four of the next six goals to pull to within 12-8 as Rice and Gadbois each found the back of the net twice.
• Vermont-Castleton scored four straight to open the fourth with Cam Frankenhoff's goal giving the Spartans an eight-goal advantage with 7:44 left. The Vikings answered with their own 7-0 run in four minutes and forty seconds of game time to pull to within 16-15 after Cameron Smith's man-up score. Salem State had one last attempt to tie the score, but were unable to convert, allowing Damske to give the Spartans a two-goal advantage in the final :30 seconds.
• Finn Maniaci started in net for Vermont-Castleton making one save in one period of action. Zac Smith (2-6) earned the win stopping 10 shots.
• Damian Biersteker (4-3) took the loss after making seven saves. Ryan Cohen made five saves in relief.  

What's Next

Salem State travels to Southern Maine this Tuesday, April 8 @ 4:00 pm.