Cioffi Ties Points Mark, Vikings Blow Past Lions 27-2

SALEM, Mass. -- Sam Cioffi (Marblehead, Mass.) scored eight goals and added three assists, tying the Salem State record for most points in a game with 11, to lead the Vikings to a 27-2 victory over Eastern  Nazarene on Wednesday afternoon at AlumnI Field. Cioffi's eight goals are the most in a game since Zach Brown netted 10 in a victory over Western Connecticut in 2015.

Salem State set several team records in the contest: goals (27), points (45), assists (18), shots (80), caused turnovers (43) and ground balls (70). The 27 goals broke the record of 22 in a win over St. Joseph's (Maine) in 2008 and the previous high for points was 37 in a victory over Johnson State in 2018.   

Christian Burke (Danvers, Mass.) - 5 goals, Drew Worthley (Saugus, Mass.) – 4 goals, Kevin Albert (Canton, Mass.) – 3 goals, Lake Fleming (Gloucester, Mass.) – 3 goals, Patrick Guinee (Gloucester, Mass.) – 3 goals, Kevin Albert (Canton, Mass.) – 3 goals, Aristomenis Koumentakos (Westfield, Mass.) – 1 goal, all contributed in the win.

In addition, Guinee finished with five assists and Koumentakos 13 ground ballls. Kyle Tammaro (Saugus, Mass.) had a game-high nine caused turnovers and eight ground balls. 

Albert scored two-of-the first-three goals of the game, staking Salem State (5-3) to a 3-0 lead. Matt Cawthorne (Morwell, Mass.) got one back for the Lions (0-7) before the Vikings rattled off six straight goals, including three by Cioffi to exit the first quarter leading 9-1. Salem State outscore Eastern Nazarene 9-0 in the second quarter as Cioffi and Fleming accounted for five goals. The Lions attempted just six shots in the first half.

The Vikings increased their lead to 23-1 in the third quarter as five different goal scorers found the back of the net. Trailing 26-1 in the fourth, Jamar Griggs (Stamford, Conn.) scored the second goal of the game for the Lions with 4:01 left to play. Burke ended the scoring with his third goal of the quarter, making the final 27-1.

Zach Royal (Abington, Mass.) stopped six shots in the win for Salem State. Starting goalie Ryan Almeida (Pompton Lakes, N.J.) made 11 saves in the first half, before giving way to Walter Stockwell (Hyde Park, Mass.) at halftime. Stockwell made eight saves for Eastern Nazarene, which was outshot 83-17 for the game.