SALEM, Mass. --  Derek Makimaa (Swartz, Creek, MI) netted a hat trick as the Vikings of Salem State clinched the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) regular season championship with a 9-3 victory over the Lancers of Worcester State Tuesday night at Rockett Arena. With the win, the Vikings clinch the number one seed in the upcoming MASCAC playoffs, and improve to 20-5 on the year. The Lancers finish their season with a 6-18-1 record and 3-14-1 mark in the MASCAC. 


Marcus Zelzer (Green Bay, WI) opened the game with several outstanding saves early on in the first period, including a glove save that denied a great scoring chance from Andrew Etheridge (Burrilville, RI) who took a wrist shot from the top of the right circle. Moments later, Salem State went on a man-advantage after Joe White (Wonder Lake, IL) was called for tripping. The Vikings took full advantage as Gabriel Cromp (Montreal, QC) rifled one to the back of the net with a slap shot from the top of the left circle that beat Worcester State's Drew Case (Plano, TX) high glove side. Zelzer's efforts kept the Vikings ahead 1-0 denying, Etheridge again on a breakaway. Salem State extended their lead to 2-0 twelve minutes into the period when Michael Chen (Rockville, MD) picked up a loose puck from Brandon Platt (Pittsburgh, PA) deep in the offensive end to defeat Case high glove side again. The Vikings ran into some penalty trouble late in the period when Andrew Bettencourt (Riverside, RI) was called for goaltender interference while also being called for roughing after the whistle alongside Lancer David Russell (Cedar Point, NC). Michael Casale (Stoney Creek, ONT) served the two-minute roughing minor for Bettencourt since he was already in the box. However, with the excellent play of Zelzer and hustle on the forecheck, Salem State was able to escape all penalties unharmed. 

After a quiet first period the second period heated up as Worcester State quickly erased the two-goal deficit when White beat Zelzer low blocker side to bring the score to 2-1 25-seconds into the second. Three minutes later, the Lancers knotted the game at 2-2 when Nicholas Drill (Madison, WI) wrapped the puck from behind the net to beat Zelzer low on his glove side. However, Salem State answered immediately when Derek Makimaa (Swartz Creek, MI) regained the lead for the Vikings when Cam Moniz (Seekonk, MA) found Makimaa alone on the ride side of the crease as Makimaa tip home a Moniz pass. After the goal Worcester State's Brian Allen (Brookfield, CT) was called for a two-minute minor that would give Salem State their second power-play of the game. On the power-play, Makimaa added his second goal in thirty-seconds when he snapped a one-timer over the right shoulder of Case after Platt chased the puck deep into the zone leaving a trailing Makimaa uncontested. Ahead 4-2, Salem State was granted another power-play moments later when Drill was called for interference. Like their previous two power-plays, the Vikings converted again to gain a 5-2 edge when Daniel Campbell (Waterloo, ONT) threw a no look pass in front of the crease that was left for John Needham (Medford, MA) to clean up, which he did. Despite the three quick scores, the Lancers did answer in the 15th minute of play when Jim LeNoir (Exton, PA) took a deep slap shot from just inside the blue line that somehow found its way past Zelzer to cut Salem State's lead to 5-3. Just before the end of the period Zelzer denied Alex DeWitz (Oronoco, MN) on a breakaway to secure the two-goal edge.

After a thrilling second period, the third period simmered down as the Vikings extended their lead to 6-3 when Makimaa completed the hat trick finishing a pass on a 2-on-1 from Campbell. Salem State wasn't done scoring as they added three more goals before the final horn. Moniz made it 7-3 when he wristed one past Case from the slot on an assist from Ryan Doherty (Tewksbury, MA). Campbell picked up his second point of the night when he muscled in a goal with a wrist shot from the top right circle past two Lancer defender to make it 8-3. Finally, Casale scored the game's last goal when he back handed a shot over Case after Bettencourt drew him out with a hesitation move as Salem State secured a 9-3 victory.

Zelzer picked up his 16th win of the season. Case (0-2) made 27 saves for Worcester State, which was outshot 36-23 for the game.

Release Courtesy of Salem State Sports Information