Vikings Rally Past Falcons

SALEM, Mass. – Madelynn Plourde (Bennington, Mass.) scored three of her team-high five goals after halftime as Salem State came from behind to defeat Fitchburg State 14-11 on Wednesday evening at Alumni Field. The win gives the Vikings their first Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference win (1-3) and raises their record to 5-7. The Falcons go to 5-9 while remaining winless in the MASCAC (0-4).

Megan Parthum (Marblehead, Mass.) – 2 goals, Taylor Sujko (Revere, Mass.) – 2 goals, Mackenzie Schmink (Danvers, Mass.) – 2 goals, 2 assists, Suzanne Stefanik (Dalton, Mass.) – 1 goal, Kayla McKim (Wakefield, Mass.) – 1 goal, Jenna Wells (Revere,  Mass.) – 1 goal all contributed in Salem State's win.

Brooke Johnson (Billerica, Mass.) – 4 goals, 1 assist, Cali Laakso (Fitchburg, Mass.) – 2 goals, 2 assists, Eva Kozikowski (Portsmouth, N.H.) – 2 goals, 1 assist, Kendra Peretzman (Randolph, Mass.) – 1 goal, Delaney Ponder (East Bridgewater, Mas.) – 1 goal, Julia Miele (South Hadley, Mass.) – 1 goal, 2 assists all scored for Fitchburg State.

The Falcons took a 2-0 first period lead as Kozikowski and Johnson scored the only goals of the opening period. Stefanik put Salem state on the board at the 10:29 mark of the second, but Johnson answered with her second of the game,  putting the Falcons back on top by two goals. Schmink and Parthum countered for the Vikings as part of a 4-0 spurt by Salem State, which included a pair of goals by Plourde as Salem State went in front 5-3. Johnson netted back-to-back scores for Fitchburg State before Miele regained the lead for the Falcons, 6-5 just before halftime.

The Vikings dominated the third period, outscoring Fitchburg State 5-1 to pull ahead by three scores. Plourde had multiple goals in the period as Salem State took a 10-7 lead heading into the fourth.

The two team exchanged goals to open the final period. Plourde and McKim netted consecutive scores, giving Salem State a comfortable 14-9 lead with 4:59 remaining. Peretzman and Laakso added late goals for the Falcons, but Salem State held on for the 14-11 victory.

Kaia Hollingsworth (Methuen, Mass.) earned the win in net making eight saves. Francesca Reyes (Malden, Mass.) started in goal for Fitchburg State and made four stops before being replaced at halftime by Alyson Cote (South Hadley, Mass.), who took the loss after being credited with six saves.