Hockey Felled by Salem State's Late Rally, 5-4

CHARLESTOWN, Mass. - Four different Rams scored, but it was Salem State's Cam Moniz shorthanded goal with 2:47 remaining that was the difference as the Vikings outlasted Suffolk, 5-4, Sunday afternoon at Emmons Horrigan O'Neil Memorial Rink. 

Moniz had staked the visiting Vikings (4-3) to a 3-2 advantage after two periods of play with a power play tally that came with 1:58 remaining in the middle stanza, but freshman Connor Parent evened matters for the host Rams (5-2-2) just 3:01 into the final period with a marker that came two seconds after Suffolk killed off a penalty.  Sophomore Casey Miller gave Salem State the lead for good with a power play goal at the 5:59 mark of the frame, and with the Rams on a potential game-tying power play, Moniz intercepted a pass at the hosts' blueline and netted a key insurance tally on the penalty kill to give the visitors a 5-3 cushion.  Junior Brett Lawson sliced Suffolk's deficit in half just 20 seconds later with his first goal of the season, but the Rams came no closer, as the Vikings killed off the final 1:06 of the contest while facing an extra attacker. 

Miller and junior Brad Jones each collected a goal and an assist in the triumph for Salem State, which also received a goal from sophomore Dan Holland as well as single assists off the sticks of senior Keaton Cashin, junior Michael Chen, sophomores Ryan Wilkinson and Michael Casale as well as freshman Brody Heleno.   

Parent added an assist to go with his goal in the setback for Suffolk, which also received tallies from senior Justin Selep and junior Danyil Medvedev to go with helpers off the sticks of sophomore Shayne Bailey and freshmen Tommy Bishop and Brendan Heinze. 

Junior Marcus Zelzer picked up the win in goal for Salem State with a 33-save effort, including 13 stops in the opening period alone, while senior Brandon Smolarek made 28 saves in the setback for Suffolk.  The Rams outshot the Vikings by a 37-33 margin, but the visitors recorded 28 shots over the final 40 minutes of action. 

Suffolk hosts Southern New Hampshire in a non-league outing on Wednesday evening at O'Neil Rink that faces off at 7:40 p.m.