Ice Hockey Remains Unbeaten in the MASCAC with 6-3 Triumph over Salem State

Framingham, Mass. – The Framingham State University ice hockey team received two goals apiece from junior Brendan McCarron (Millbury, Mass.) and sophomore Ricky O'Connor (North Andover, Mass.) as the Rams defeated Salem State University 6-3 in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action this evening at Framingham's Loring Arena.   

The Rams remain atop the MASCAC standings after the victory at 3-0 in the conference and 3-1 overall.  The victory over the Vikings is the first in 35 meetings between the two schools dating back to the 1987 season.  The Vikings have dropped two straight and are now 2-2 overall and 1-2 in the MASCAC.

The Rams grabbed the lead for good just 3:36 into the game as O'Connor converted on a shot from the left wing off an assist from Rich Hill (Tampa, Fla.).  Senior Daniel Roy (Billerica, Mass.) doubled the Rams lead as he converted a wrap-around shot from behind the net for his first of the season at 11:35.

Salem State appeared to cut the Rams lead in half just under six minutes into the second when a Viking slipped a shot under the pads of FSU goalie Nick Cafrelli (San Jose, CA), but the officials got together and waved off the goal.  Framingham State took advantage and doubled the lead to 4-0 with a pair of goals in the next five minutes.  McCarron struck first when he cleaned up a rebound at 12:12. O'Connor hit senior Dan Bogdan (Westfield, Mass.) with a pass in front and Bogan's shot found the back of the net.

Salem State turned on the offensive pressure in the third period outshooting the Rams 24-9 in the frame finally broke into the scoring column.  Freshman Alex Minter (Peabody, Mass.) blasted a shot glove side from the blue line that found the back of the net cutting the Rams lead to three.  Framingham responded two minutes later as McCarron knocked home another rebound for his third of the season pushing the advantage back to four.

Salem State tacked on two more midway through the third to cut the Rams lead to 5-3.  Junior Chad Goodwin (Whitinsville, Mass.) wristed home a rebound at 8:07 and freshman Ryan Doherty (Tewksbury, Mass.) converted off an assist from Kyle Phelan (Barnstable, Mass.) at 10:20. 

Salem State had several scoring chances down the stretch, but Cafrelli kept coming up with the timely saves.  O'Connor added his second of the night, an empty netter with 19 ticks left on the clock, to reach the final margin.

The Vikings outshot the Rams 48-28 in the game and neither team converted on the power play as only five penalties were called in the game.  Cafrelli finished the night with 45 saves en route to his third victory of the season between the pipes.  Junior Ed Fritz (Seal Beach, CA) was tagged with the loss for the Vikings after coming on in relief in the first period and making 13 stops.  Senior Ryan Sutliffe (Las Vegas, NV) saw time in the first and third periods and made nine stops.

The Rams are back in action next Thursday evening when they host Worcester State for a MASCAC game beginning at 7:30 p.m., while the Vikings host UMass Dartmouth for a MASCAC match-up on Thursday beginning at 7 p.m.