Salem, MA --- Salem State senior Giancarlo Cappodano (Mountainside, NJ) tallied four points on two goals and two assists to help propel the Vikings to a 7-2 victory over Worcester State in MASCAC ice hockey action this evening at Rockett Ice Arena.

The two teams concluded MASCAC play as the Vikings improve to 14-8-3 overall and 11-4-3 in the conference.  The Lancers slip to 8-13-3 on the season and 5-11-2 in league play. 

SSU grabbed the lead 7:06 into the game on a junior Chris Costigan (Salem, NH) goal – his fifth of the season – to put the Vikings ahead 1-0.  Salem State added another tally when freshman Cameron Banwell (Toronto, Ontario) scored at 16:55 to go into the first intermission with a 2-0 lead.   

The Vikings wasted no time in the second stanza as sophomore Kyle Phelan (Barnstable, MA) scored just 1:48 in to claim the 3-0 lead. 

The Lancers would fight back as senior Tim D'Orazio (Jamison, PA) scored his eight goal of the season coming at 15:14 with assists by freshman Brenton Dyok (Rocklin, CA) and senior John Cahalane (Tewksbury, MA), making the score 3-1. 

SSU answered just over three minutes later as junior Brian Hanafin (Burlington, MA) scored his first marker of the season at 18:37 to head into the locker room with a 4-1 edge. 

The Vikings pushed their lead higher within the first eight minutes of the third period on three consecutive goals – two by Cappodano and one by freshman Tom Mahoney (Braintree, MA) – to make the score 7-1 at the 12:03 mark.

Cahalane would add a power-play goal with just over five minutes remaining getting helpers by Dyok and sophomore Derek Serbon (Crown Point, IN).  However, the deficit was too much for the Lancers to overcome as they would not add any more goals. 

Senior Bryan Kalczynski (Tonawanda, NY) and sophomore Taylor Fant (Denver, CO) combined to collect 29 saves for the Lancers while second-year Ryan Sutliffe (Grand Forks, ND) and junior Sam Avoine (Ste-Perpetue, Quebec) stopped 20 shots for the hosts. 

Salem State outshot Worcester State 36-22 – including a 14-8 clip in the final period.  The Lancers netted the only power-play goal of the game as they were one-for-three as the Vikings did not convert on four extra man opportunities. 

Worcester State will conclude their regular season schedule on Thursday as they travel to cross-town rival Assumption for 7:35 tilt. 

The Lancers will also begin MASCAC tournament play on Saturday as they travel to Fitchburg State for a 4 PM puck-drop.

Release By Jim Sarkisian – Sports Information Assista