Vikings Rally for 9-8 Victory

Jose Rodriguez '24, Staff Writer | Media & Communications

SALEM, Mass.- Aislinn Bennett's (Milford, Mass.) go-ahead goal with 6:37 left on the clock proved to be the difference in the game as Salem State came from behind to win 9-8 on Saturday night over UMass-Boston at Alumni Field. The Vikings boost their record to 2-6, while the Beacons drop to 0-8. 

How Did It Happen?

• UMass- Boston scored three goals in a span of a minute and twenty-two seconds, which was highlighted by Mia Boyd (Buffalo, N.Y.), who had two of the three goals. 
• Salem State managed to cut the Beacons' deficit to two when Brenna Greene (Haverhill, Mass.) found Bennett (Milford, Mass.) and Bennett scored from the left side of the net at the 2:47 mark.
• As time was about to expire in the first, Jenna Wells (Revere, Mass.) made it a one goal game with just six seconds left in the period.
• Kaia Hollingsworth (Methuen, Mass.) then managed to tie the game at three and erase UMass Boston's three-goal lead in the second.
• Angelina Mazzone (Beverly, Mass.) managed to give the Beacons a one-goal lead at the 11:48 mark and UMass- Boston made it a two-goal game when Margeaux Butters (Snohomish, Wash.) assisted Jamie McAleavey (Quincy, Mass.) at the 6:49 mark. 
• The Beacons built a three-goal lead at the 3:57 mark when Teresa Sheedy (Quincy, Mass.) scored on a free position shot.
• Wells scored her second goal of the game on a swift move passing four Viking defenders to cut the lead to 6-4.
• Salem State was down by two at the half, but Kenzie Currey (Bell Air. Md.) scored to make it a one goal game at the 10:07 mark of the third.
• Currey then had a goal waived off on a free position which would've tied the game at 6-6. The Beacons added one more to make it a two-goal game by a score of 7-5 heading into the final period of regulation. 
• Wells managed to score a hat-trick twenty seconds into the final period of regulation, which was assisted by Laura Young (Leominster, Mass.).
• The Beacons managed to increase their lead to two, but Young managed to score the next two goals to even up the scoring at 8-all. Bennett did not waste any time from the draw as she sprinted towards the net to give the Vikings their first lead of the game at the 6:37 mark, which proved to be the difference.

Behind The Numbers?

• Wells led the team with three goals while Hollingsworth had three caused turnovers. Additionally, Wells and Hollingsworth had a combined 10 ground balls with each recording five apiece. For the Beacons Mazzone had three goals while McAleavey had five ground balls.
• For UMass- Boston, Falandys picked up the loss playing 53:23 minutes before being replaced by Leah Bosch (Minnetonka, Minn) as Falandys saved nine shots while Nora Bradley (Haddon Township, N.J.) saved eight shots in the win for the Vikings.   

What's Next?

• Salem State will begin MASCAC conference play when they will face Mass. Maritime at Alumni Field on Thursday April 2. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.