Salem, MA ---Salem State freshman Alex Minter (Peabody, MA/Boston Jr. Rangers) and classmate John Needham (Medford, MA/Valley Jr. Warriors) both potted two goals and added an assist as they helped lead the Vikings to a 6-1 victory over Worcester State in MASCAC ice hockey action this afternoon.

With the win the Vikings improve to 6-3 overall (4-2 MASCAC) while the Lancers slip to 4-6-1 (0-5-1 MASCAC) in their fall semester finale.

Salem State scored a trio of goals in the first for the 3-0 lead as they netted all three markers with the extra man advantage.

First-year Tanner Fahlsteadt (Centennial, CO/Manhattanville) helped get the scoring started at the 5:44 mark before Needham and senior Kyle Phelan (Barnstable, MA/Bridgewater Bandits) scooped in markers 33 seconds apart less than two minutes later.

In the second frame, Minter notched an unassisted tally at the 5:16 mark and he registered his other in the waning moments of the period to help give the Vikings the commanding 5-0 margin.

After Needham capped off the scoring for the hosts with this goal with 7:44 off the clock, Worcester State broke up the shutout bid with a power play goal of their own.

Junior Nathan Stanley (Boise, ID/Idaho Jr. Steelheads) found the back of the net with 2:21 remaining in regulation as he had some help from classmate Stephen Rock (Tulsa, OK/Idaho Jr. Steelheads) and sophomore Joe White (Wonder Lake, IL/Southern Oregon Spartans).

SSU senior Ryan Sutliffe (Las Vegas, NV/Helena Big Horns) turned aside 12 shots in the triumph while his counterpart, sophomore Salvatore Tecci (Franklin, MA/Long Beach Bombers), stopped 38 in the setback.

Salem State outshot their opponents 44-13 as five of their six markers came with the extra man advantage.

Both squads will continue their seasons after the Christmas break. Worcester State heads to UMass Dartmouth on Saturday, January 11 for a 4:40 meeting with UMass Dartmouth while the Vikings and UMass Boston do battle at Fenway Park on January 7 in a 4 PM matchup.

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