Prince's Goal the Difference in Vikings' 1-0 Win Over Rams

SALEM, Mass. -- Kendy Prince (Medford, Mass.) scored the only goal of the game as Salem State took a firm grip on first place in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) standings with a 1-0 win over Framingham State on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Field. The Vikings remain unbeaten in the MASCAC at 3-0 and improve to 6-5 overall. The Rams slip to 2-9 and 2-1 in conference. 

Sherak Ayamga (Tuma, Ghana) had the first real scoring opportunity of the game as the Framingham State forward blasted a shot on net that was handled by keeper Matt Hauntsman (Milfrod, N.H) in the 14th minute.

Prince put the Vikings on the scoreboard when he redirected Lucas Amaral's (Peabody, Mass.) shot that keeper James Hartshorn (Chelmsford, Mass.) deflected off the post. The ball landed at the feet of Prince who earned the put back for his MASCAC-leading 11th goal of the season.

The remainder of the first half was played evenly, despite Framingham State's 6-2 advantage in shots. 

Salem State's defense clamped in on the Rams' offense in the second half, allowing very few scoring chances as just five shots found the net.

Samuel Deossa (Watertown, Mass.) nearly gave the Vikings an insurmountable two-goal lead in the 71st minute, but a diving stop by Hartshorn kept the score 1-0. The Rams made one final push in the final two minutes as Ibrahim Kyeyune (Kampala, Uganda) had the best chance for Framingham State after halftime, but Haunstman read the shot perfectly and made the diving stop to secure the 1-0 victory.  

Hauntsman ended with eight saves while his counterpart Hartshorn stopped seven shots. Salem State finished the game with a 14-11 lead in shots and a 6-2 advantage in corners.