Ceasar with 28 saves as Panthers maintain first place in MASCAC

            PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Sophomore Ian McGilvrey (Omaha, Neb.) and senior Chad Barthelmess (Norristown, Pa.) registered a goal and an assist each Saturday evening as Plymouth State University held off Salem State University, 3-2, in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) men's ice hockey action at Hanaway Rink.

            Plymouth State maintained its hold on first place in the MASCAC, improving to 6-0-1 in conference games, 6-5-3 overall.  Salem State fell to 3-4-0 in conference games, 6-6-1 overall.

            After the two teams played scoreless hockey for the first 34 minutes, McGilvrey scored the first goal of the game from Barthelmess with six minutes to go in the second period, and Barthelmess made it 2-0 from McGilvrey and sophomore Mike Economos (Crystal Lake, Ill.) early in the third. Senior Kristofer Faric (Whitby, Ont.) popped in a power play goal midway through the third period to put the Vikings on the board and cut the deficit to one, but sophomore defenseman Tord Thoresen (Oppegard, Norway) got it right back for PSU less than a minute later when he snapped a shot in from the left point to restore the two-goal advantage.

            Salem State pulled its goalie with a minute and 45 seconds remaining, and sophomore Alex Minter (Peabody, Mass.) capitalized on the 6-on-5 situation with a goal with 56 seconds remaining to make it 3-2, but PSU held on for the win.

            The visitors had a 30-21 advantage in shots on goal for the game. PSU senior Gordon Ceasar recorded the victory with 28 saves, while Salem State freshman Jason Pucciarelli (Newmarket, Ont.) finished with 18 stops.

            Both teams are back in action Thursday with MASCAC games as Salem State hosts Westfield State and PSU entertains Fitchburg State.

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