Panthers Outlast Vikings 12-8

Recap courtesy of Salem State

SALEM, MASS. –  Griffin Jacobson (Windham, Maine), Ryan Croatti (Brunswick, Maine) and Connor Delea (Manchester, N.H.) combined for six goals and three assists as Plymouth State held off Salem State 12-8 in a Little East Conference matchup on Friday evening at Alumni Field. The Panthers improve to 4-4 on the season and 2-0 in the Little East. The Vikings dip to 3-7 and 0-2 in conference.

Casey Elkins (Stow, Mass.), Drew Lederer (Jefferson, Mass.), Chris Waterbury (Clinton, Conn.), Thomas Kelly (Chantilly, Va.), Trevor Gagnon (Pelham, N.H.) and Trevor Barrett (Amherst, N.H.) all scored goal for Plymouth State.

Charlie Bourgeois (Billerica, Mass.) – 2 goals, Zach Persson (Danvers, Mass.) – 2 goals, Jay Colletti (Billerica, Mass.), Tyler Billouin (Bedfrod, Mass.), Craig Denehy (Salem, Mass.) and Jack Feeney (Abington, Mass.) notched scores for Salem State.

The Panthers held a 3-2 lead after one period of play. It was Salem State's Colletti, who struck first, notching his third goal of the season in the opening minute. Croatti, netted back-to-back scores for the Panthers, midway through the period before Billouin tied the game again at 2-2. However, Elkins snuck in a goal right before the buzzer, giving the visitors a one-score advantage.

Bourgeois answered for Salem State quickly to open the second. Though once again the Panthers aided by goals from Jacobson and Delea took a two-score lead, 5-3 with 11:46 remaining. Lederer then extended the lead to 6-3 with his fifth of the year for Plymouth State.  Following a timeout, Persson and Denehy netted goals less than two minutes apart to pull the Vikings to within a goal at 6-5. Bourgeois continued Salem State's run with his second of the game, tying the score with 4:16 left before halftime.

Waterbury broke the tie just seven seconds into the third period for the Panthers. Salem State's Persson followed with a wrap-around goal, tying the game once again at 7-7. Consecutive scores from Kelly and Gagnon gave the Panthers a two-goal lead before Feeney pulled the Vikings to within 9-8 with 4:09 left in the quarter. 

Jacobson made the score 10-8 with a man-up goal less than thirty seconds into the fourth.  Barrett added another score for Plymouth State with 7:45 left on the clock, giving the Panthers some breathing room as Plymouth State built an 11-8 lead. Delea capped the scoring with his second of the night as the Panthers took a 12-8 decision.

Kyle Stockman (Ballston Lake, N.Y.) won 17-22 faceoffs and while grabbing a game-high 10 groundballs.

Zel Kerkel (Loudon, N.H.) made two saves in the win. Chris Schaub (Brewster, N.Y.) stopped 16 shots as the Panthers outshot Salem State 44-25.