Gordon Holds Off Salem State

SALEM, Mass. –  Chase Gwynn (Apopka, Fla.) notched a hat-trick to lift Gordon College to a 4-1 win over Salem State on Wednesday evening at Alumni Field. The Fighting Scots improve to 5-3 on the season while the Vikings dip to 5-5.

Salem State tested Gordon keeper Brody Veleber (Coatesville, Pa.) early, led by MASCAC leading scorer Kendy Prince (Medford, Mass.) the Vikings put up four quick shots on the senior netminder.

However, the Fighting Scots' Ben Mollenhauer (Burlington, Mass.) set up the first goal of the game when his cross pass found Benji Wright (Franklin, Tenn.) in the right corner. Wright lifted a shot towards the net that was misjudged by Salem State's keeper and landed behind the goal line for a 1-0 lead in the 25^th minute.

The Fighting Scots kept the pressure on Salem State as Isaac Bennett (Matthews, N.C.) found Gwynn behind the Vikings' defense just outside the goalie box. Gwynn's quick shot beat keeper Leith Khan (Shrewsbury, Mass.) for a 2-0 Gordon lead at the 28:29 mark. 

Wright helped make it 3-0 when he outraced the Viking's defense and found Gwynn all alone with a centering pass that Gwynn easily deposited for his second goal of the night in the 35^th minute.

The Fighting Scots held an 11-8 advantage in shots in the first half.

Salem State held off an early salvo from Gordon at the beginning of the second half and responded in a big way as Lucas Amaral (Peabody, Mass.) headed in a ball from Dylan Senra (Dartmouth, Mass.) in the 52^nd minute to cut the deficit to 3-1. Salem State responded to a lackluster effort in the first half and kept the pressure on Veleber as Prince nearly added another score off a header moments after Amaral's score. Prince narrowly missed just wide of the net as the Vikings offense started to surge.

The Fighting Scots survived Salem State's bid to tie the game and Gwynn nearly added his third goal of the game, but was denied by backup keeper Matt Hauntsman (Milford, N.H.), who stopped the forward from point-blank range. 

Gwynn did secure his hat-trick after firing in a rebound from Jarvin Ramirez (Milton, Ga.) in the 83^rd minute to ice the game for Gordon.

Veleber finished with nine saves in the win while Khan made six first half saves before being replaced at halftime. Hauntsman stopped eight shots in the second half.