Auburn, MA --- Salem State freshman Chris Mastropietro (Revere, MA) and classmate Cam Moniz (Seekonk, MA) each recorded a goal and an assist, while senior Derek Crocker (Wakefield, MA) tallied three assists to help pace the Viking's offensive attack as they defeated Worcester State, 5-0, in MASCAC men's ice hockey action this evening.
Worcester State (3-8, 1-5 MASCAC) had an early chance to open the scoring when sophomore Nathan Stanley (Tulsa, OK) knifed his way through two defenders on the left side of the net and chipped a backhander toward the upper right corner only to be denied by SSU junior goal keeper Ryan Sutliffe (Las Vegas, NV) at the 8:03 mark of the opening period.
Salem State (5-3-1, 4-1-1 MASCAC) then gained all the momentum to go on and score four first period goals.
The first came when Mastropietro corralled the rebound of Crocker's initial shot and put it in the back of the net for the 1-0 advantage at the 9:22 mark.
Three minutes later both Mastropietro and Crocker would combine to find senior Matt Kenline (Yarmouth, MA) on an odd man break for the 2-0 tally.
The Vinkings would then score their third opening frame goal when sophomore Chad Goodwin (Whitinsville, MA) was able to put the puck between the pipes for his team leading seventh goal of the season with just over five minutes to play in the stanza.
SSU would tack on their final goal of the period with just under two minutes to play as Moniz slapped a shot on net that gave Salem the 4-0 lead heading into the first intermission.
The Lancers came out of the locker room poised to make a comeback and had a great chance early in the second period to cut into their deficit when freshman Joe White (Wonder Lake, IL) found classmate Mike Leskun (Geneva, IL) on a 2-on-1 break only to be stonewalled by the left pad of Sutliffe at the 4:10 mark.
After a scoreless second frame, Salem State would tally a goal at the 6:17 mark of the final period off the stick of freshman Andrew Bettencourt (Riverside, RI) for the 5-0 final.
Sutliffe was strong in net all game as he stopped all 23 shots he faced in recording the shutout, while WSU junior net minder Taylor Fant (Denver, CO) tallied 25 saves before he was relieved midway through the third period for freshman Drew Case (Plano, TX) who recorded three saves to close out the game.
The Blue and Gold return to action in one month's time as they host Becker on Tuesday January 8th for a 2 PM affair, As Salem State heads to Colby for a 2 PM matchup on New Year's Eve.
Story By John Hanna --- Sports Information Graduate Assistant