WESTFIELD, Mass. – The Westfield State ice hockey team scored three goals in a span of four minutes midway through the second period to defeat Salem State 4-1 in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference game from Amelia Park Arena in Westfield, Mass. on Thursday night.
Westfield (3-2, 1-1 MASCAC) picks up their first conference victory of the season while Salem drops to 0-4 on the year and 0-3 in MASCAC action.
Entering the second period at a scoreless tie, the Vikings struck first on a shorthanded goal after an Owls turnover at the defensive blue line led to a breakaway by junior Erik Larrson (Lake Tahoe, Calif.) who pulled the puck from his forehand to backhand, then lifted a shot past the outstretched Valtteri Valtonen (Helsinki, Finland) to put Salem in front 1-0.
After the Salem goal, the Owls scored three goals in a span of four minutes midway through the second period. The Owls found the equalizer on an attacking zone entry where senior Justin Collins (Wilmington, Mass.) skated down the middle of the ice, then dropped the puck back to Brett Williams (Middleboro, Mass.) who ripped a high shot past Vikings goaltender Hunter Thomas (Schwenksville, Penn.) for his third goal of the season to tie the game with 9:08 left in the period.
Two and a half minutes later, Westfield capitalized on a powerplay opportunity with Collins dishing a diagonal feed to first-year Ryan O'Halloran (Burlington, Mass.) who was able to pot home his fourth goal of the season at the back post to put the Owls on top 2-1.
The scoring barrage continued 44 seconds after the O'Halloran tally as junior Gianluca Marini (Lighthouse Point, Fla.) entered the offensive zone and fed a pass to his right side where junior Cullen Young (Maynard, Mass.) wristed a shot towards the goal that was deflected in front by Marini and into the net to push the Owls lead to two goals with 5:28 left in the frame.
Westfield distanced themselves in the third period off the stick of first-year forward Cooper Board (Salem, Mass.). Board corralled the puck at the defensive blue line, skated up the ice with momentum, and was able to dangle in between two defenders before lifting a shot passed Thomas to give the Owls the 4-1 final score.
The Owls outshot the Vikings 37-28 in the contest with Valtonen (W, 3-2) recording 27 saves and Thomas (L, 0-2) stopping 33 shots for Salem. Each team registered eight penalties a piece as both teams found themselves in the box frequently. Westfield converted on two of nine man-advantage opportunities while Salem was held scoreless in five powerplays.
Westfield State will travel to Framingham State for a MASCAC clash on Saturday with puck drop at 7:40 P.M.