Deocleciano's Goal Helps Vikings Clinch Top Seed

SALEM, Mass. – Damon Deocleciano's  (Lowell, Mass.), second half goal helped Salem State clinch the MASCAC regular season title and number one seed in the upcoming MASCAC Tournament in a 1-0 victory over MCLA on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Field. It is the 17^th time Salem State has won or shared the conference regular season championship. Salem State improves to 10-6 and remains unbeaten in the league at 6-0. The Trailblazers slip to 4-9-1 and 2-4.

Neither team could find the back of the net in the first half, despite both teams generating scoring chances. Salem State's Kendy Prince (Medford, Mass.) missed wide twice before Fabricio Torres (Lima, Peru) narrowly missed giving the Vikings a 1-0 lead as his shot went just to the right from eight yards out midway through the first half.  

Despite limited opportunities by MCLA's offense, Gabe Dias (Shrewsbury, Mass.) nearly gave the Trailblazers a 1-0 lead as he took an uncontested shot from 10 yards out that landed just to the right of the goal. With the game appearing to remain scoreless at halftime, Salem State used one final push in the final seconds to break the tie. MCLA's keeper Sam Edge (Williamstown, Mass.) made a nice save of a shot off a free kick, but Dylan Senra's (Dartmouth, Mass.) header off the rebound sailed just wide to the right as time expired.

The Vikings put up 13 shots on goal to the Trailblazers' three, but the game went into the half tied 0-0.

Salem State broke through in the 53^rd minute with the game's first goal as the Vikings' defense maintained possession deep in MCLA's zone. Lucas Amaral (Peabody, Mass.) fed Damon Deocleciano (Lowell, Mass.), who beat the goalie to his his left for a 1-0 lead. 

Salem State's defense was relentless in preventing MCLA from setting up in their zone. However, the Vikings could not add to their total with their best chance coming on an Aaron O'Toole (Quince, Mass.) cross that Salem State could not finish. 

The Vikings tallied 26 shots to just seven for the Trailblazers while holding a 7-0 edge in corners.

Matt Hauntsman (Milfrod, N.H.) made two saves in the victory while Edge stopped 10 shots.