Vikings Win Second Straight, Defeat Owls 3-1

SALEM, Mass.-  Aaron Mercer (Corner Brook, New Foundland) making his second start in net made 30 saves as Salem State defeated Westfield State 3-1 on Tuesday afternoon in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) contest at Rockett Arena. The Vikings win their second straight and improve to 5-8 on the season and 3-6 in conference. The Owls slide to 7-6-2 and 2-4-2 in the MASCAC.

Salem State carried the momentum from Saturday's win against Worcester State by again scoring first. Keagan O'Donoghue (Frisco, Texas) opened the scoring at the 4:21 mark of the first before Billy McGwin (Rochester, N.Y.) caught Westfield State goalie Valtteri Valtonen (Helsinki, Findland) out of position, and finding an open net, went top shelf for a 2-0 Viking's lead.

Mathieu Jones (Gatineau, Quebec) nearly cut the deficit in half, as his shot caught Mercer right in the facemask, but the the Owls were shutout despite holding a 14-9 advantage in shots.

John-Michael DiGregorio (Montreal, Quebec) drew Westfield State to within a score with a power-play goal at 12:34 of the second, but Connor Woolley (Poghquag, N.Y.)  put home a rebound at the 18:21 mark, giving the Vikings a 3-1 second period lead.

Salem State kept the Owls off the scoreboard in the third, holding a two-goal lead despite Westfield State utilizing an extra-attacker for over two minutes in the final moments of the game.