SALEM, Mass. – Freshman
David Matousek (West Chester, Pa.) scored a pair of goals and classmate
Severi Sulonen (Turku, Finland) posted a career-high three assists as #14 Plymouth State University skated past Salem State University, 5-2, in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) men's ice hockey game at Rockett Arena on Saturday afternoon.
In a final tune-up before the start of the MASCAC Tournament, the Panthers erased a 1-0 deficit with four straight goals. Salem State scored the game's first goal 1:54 into the second, but junior
Donte' DiPonio (Trenton, Mich.) answered back midway through the period and junior
Cam Patton (Truro, Nova Scotia) gave PSU a lead it would not relinquish with a power play goal late in the frame.
PSU used another two power play strikes to take control in the third period. Matousek potted what would prove to be the game winner in the opening minutes of the frame and junior
Ethan Stuckless (Conception Bay South, Newfoundland) made it 4-1 at the 8:33 mark.
The Vikings got one back with less than seven minutes to play, but Matousek sniped his second of the game into the empty net to secure the win.
Plymouth State ends the regular season at 21-2-2 (18-1-2 MASCAC). Salem State goes to 6-18-1 (6-14-1 MASCAC).
PSU now turns its attention to the MASCAC Tournament. As the top seed, the Panthers have a bye into the semifinal round and will host the winner of the #4/#5 matchup next Saturday (Feb. 24).
The Basics:
- #14 Plymouth State 5, Salem State 2
- #14 Plymouth State (21-2-2, 18-1-2 MASCAC)
- Salem State (6-18-1, 6-14-1 MASCAC)
How it Happened:
- For the second straight game the contest remained scoreless through the first period.
- Salem State got on the board less than two minutes into the second for a 1-0 lead.
- The Panthers pulled even midway through the frame when senior Anton Jellvik (Taby, Sweden) hit DiPonio with a cross ice pass through the defensive zone. DiPonio flew up the left side and snapped off a wrister that beat the Vikings' goaltender at 9:37 to square the game at 1-1.
- PSU pulled ahead when some crisp passing led to an easy tally for Patton during a power play chance. Sulonen sent the puck across the blue line to freshman Patrick O'Connell (West Chester, Pa.), who skated into the left circle before slipping a pass to Patton in the slot for the easy tap-in with 1:22 left in the period.
- Plymouth State extended the lead with another power play goal 1:29 into the third. Sulonen hit Patton in the high slot, who left the puck for the trailer Matousek. Matousek weaved around a defender and deked the goalie before slipping the puck into the net to make it 3-1.
- PSU scored on the man-advantage once again seven minutes later to push the margin to 4-1. Jellvik grabbed the puck off the near side boards and found junior Connor Tait (Boyds, Md.) in the left circle. Tait fired a quick pass to Stuckless, who was alone at the back post for the easy score.
- The Vikings got one back with 6:57 left to play, but Matousek buried an empty netter with 1:30 remaining to account for the final score.
By the Numbers:
- Matousek posted the first two-goal game of his career. He has five goals and six points over the last four games.
- Sulonen's three points tied a career high.
- Patton finished with a goal and an assist, while Jellvik added two helpers for a multi-point game of his own.
- Senior Kalle Andersson (Taby, Sweden) made 25 saves in the win.
- PSU outshot the Vikings by a 59-27 margin.
- The Panthers have won each of the last ten matchups and improve to 19-2-3 against the Vikings dating back to the 2016-17 season.
Up Next:
- Top-seeded Plymouth State will host the winner of the #4/#5 first round matchup next Saturday (Feb. 24) at 6:00 p.m.
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