FRAMINGHAM – Behind 25 saves from junior Marcus Zelzer, the Salem State University ice hockey team defeated the Framingham State Rams 5-0 in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action this evening at Loring Arena.
With the win, the Vikings improve 5-3 on the year and are now 3-2 in the MASCAC. The victory is the 550th for Viking head coach William O’Neill. The loss drops the Rams to 2-6 on the year and 1-4 in the conference.
The Vikings got on the board in the 5th minute of action when junior Michael Chen fired home a shot from inside the blue line on the power play for the 1-0 lead. The game would remain 1-0 until the closing minutes of the frame when Andrew Bucci converted off feeds from Brad Jones and Ryan Doherty extending the lead to 2-0.
Salem pushed the lead to 3-0 just over four minutes into the second period, but three minutes later the Rams had a chance to cut into the deficit. Sophomore Tyler Colacchio (Bellingham, Mass.) was hooked on a breakaway and the Rams were awarded a penalty shot. Colacchio’s bid went wide of the net keeping the game 3-0 in favor of the visitors. The Vikings would put the game out of reach with a pair of goals 27 seconds apart midway through the period to reach the final differential.
The Vikings outshot the Rams 34-25 in the game with Zelzer recording the shutout victory. Freshman Adam Calabrese (Philadelphia, PA) took the loss for the Rams surrendering five goals and making 19 saves, while junior Alessio Muggli (Rueti, Switzerland) came on in relief in the second period making 10 stops.
Salem State will host Worcester State on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.
