Auburn, MA --- Salem State senior Giancarlo Capodanno (Moutainside, NJ) and junior Matt Kenline (Yarmouth, MA) each tallied a goal and an assist to help the Vikings defeat Worcester State 4-2 in MASCAC ice hockey action this evening at Horgan Memorial Rink.

With the victory, Salem State improves to 11-5-2 overall and maintains first place in the MASCAC improving to 8-2-2.  The Lancers slip to 6-9-3 on the season and 3-7-2 in conference play. 

WSU held the momentum in the first frame as they kept the puck in their offensive zone for much of the period and had an 11-6 edge in shots.  However, the Vikings took advantage of their opportunities as they were able to strike first when Kenline scored with 2:26 in the opening period giving SSU the 1-0 lead.

After the first intermission, Salem State wasted no time as they increased their lead to two markers, just 14 seconds into the second period.  Junior Dan Smolinsky (Plymouth, MA) received a pass from sophomore Kyle Phelan (Barnstable, MA) and fired a shot from the right point that found its way to the back of the net. 

The Lancers would cut into the lead with 46 seconds remaining in the second as senior Tim D'Orazio (Jamison, PA) scored his sixth tally of the season on a power-play goal getting assists from freshman Andrew Pierson (Clovis, CA) and senior John Cahalane (Tewksbury, MA). 

The Vikings added an insurance goal at 17:22 of the third period when Capodanno scored his ninth tally of the season to increase the SSU edge to 3-1. 

With 25 seconds left in the third stanza, WSU pulled their goalie and was able to slice into the two-goal deficit as freshman Nathan Stanley (Boise, ID) scored his fifth marker of the year tipping in an intentionally wide shot by classmate Cody Osburn (Sacramento, CA).

But the Vikings would prevail and earn the victory with an extra goal as senior Ian Flannagan (New Hampton, NH) sealed the game for the visitors on an empty netter with three seconds remaining.

Salem State sophomore goaltender Ryan Sutliffe (Grand Forks, ND) stood strong as he made 33 saves while WSU fourth-year net-minder Bryan Kalczynski (Tonawanda, NY) stopped 24 shots in the setback.

In a game that only saw three penalties, the Blue and Gold were able to take advantage of the extra man going 1-for-2 on the night on power-play opportunities while Salem State was 0-for-1.

The Lancers outshot their opponents 35-28 for the game, but the visitors had the upper hand in the final two periods with the 24-21 edge.

With two assists in the contest Cahalane notched his 70th career point (34 goals, 36 assists).

Worcester State will take on second-place UMass Dartmouth in a MASCAC game on Thursday at 5:30 PM while the Vikings will travel to St. Anslem on Tuesday for a 7PM tilt.     

Release by Jim Sarkisian - Sports Information Assistant