SALEM — Junior goalie Marcus Zelzer (Green Bay, WI) recorded a shutout as Salem State rolled to a 7-0 victory over the Falcons of Fitchburg State Thursday night at Rockett Arena. Salem State improves to 3-1 on the season and 2-1 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference. Fitchburg State slides to 4-3 and 2-2 in the MASCAC.
Zelzer, making his first start in net this season, held off the Falcons’ rush, which dominated early, outshooting the Vikings 13-8. However, Zelzer stopped all 13 shots, allowing the offense to play aggressive. Eight minutes into the period Daniel Campbell (Waterloo, ONT) received a stretch pass that allowed him to get past the defense alongside a streaking Derek Makimaa (Swartz Creek, MI), who put home the one-timer to give the Vikings an early 1-0 edge. Fitchburg State had an opportunity to tie the game on a breakaway by Mike Fretz (Seattle, WA), but he was turned away by a diving Zelzer. With six minutes left to play in the first, Salem State extended their lead to 2-0 when Brad Jones (Fort Lauderdale, FL) threw a slap shot on net, which was kicked away by Falcons’ goalie Charles Jakobsson (Jonkoping, Sweden), but Casey Miller (Billerica, MA) found the rebound for his second goal of the season.
Salem State’s third line consisting of Miller, Michael Chen (Rockville, MD), and Ryan Wilkerson (Burlington, ONT) continued to produce for the Vikings as Wilkerson tallied Salem State’s third goal of the evening after crushing a Falcon puck handler in the offensive end. Miller and Chen were credited with the assists as Salem State built their lead to 3-0. Moments later, Brody Heleno (Mississaga, QUE) drew an interference minor that gave the Falcons a man advantage. However, Salem State’s Jones’ pick pocketed a Fitchburg State forward to feed Cam Moniz (Seekonk, MA), who found a trailing John Needham (Medford, MA) for an easy 2-on-1 goal to put Salem State atop 4-0. After the Vikings’ fourth goal, Fitchburg State head coach Dean Fuller made a goalie change as Corey McMahon (Lunenburg, MA) took over the duties for Jakobsson. The Vikings outshot the Falcons 13-10 in the period.
The Vikings’ rush wouldn’t let up as they added two more goals in the opening minutes of third period to boost their lead to 6-0. Jones tallied his second point of the night as he rifled a one-timer in from his defensive partner, Gabriel Cromp (Montreal, QUE). Minutes later, Makimaa threw a rolling puck in the offensive end to prevent the offside which ended up on Campbell’s tape in front of the crease for an easy score. Heleno was also credited with the assist on the Campbell goal along with Makimaa. Makimaa continued to dish out the assists as he threw a diagonal pass to Jones from the red line, who ripped a slap shot on net that was deflected in by Moniz to increase the lead to 7-0. The seventh goal called for another goalie change for the Falcons as Quinn Wold (Aurora, CO) finished the game.
Zelzer (1-0) recorded 29 saves in the victory while Jakobsson (1-2) stopped 11 shots before being replaced by McMahon.
Salem State will travel to UMass Dartmouth on November 21st where they will face-off against the Corsairs at 4:00 p.m. The Falcons hit the ice again on November 21st as well, when they challenge the Panthers of Plymouth State at 4:00 p.m. in Plymouth, NH.
