SALEM, Mass. -- Ronald Jensen (Zionsville, IN) picked up six points on four goals and two assists as the Colonels of Curry College cruised to a 12-8 victory over the Vikings of Salem State. With the victory, the Colonels improve to 5-2 on the season as the Vikings fall to 2-4.
With little offense coming from both teams, Alex Cartier (Hamden, CT) managed to score the first goal of the game for Curry with 2:40 remaining, which would be the only scoring in the period, as the Colonels were able to exit the first with a 1-0 lead.
Nate Staples (Salem, MA) put the Vikings on the board with a face-off win that ended in a shot that slipped by Colonels goalie Timothy McNair (Wilmette, IL). Curry's' high-powered offense came together after a Connor Arnold (Clifton Park, NY) goal that led to four unanswered goals for a 5-1 lead entering the second half. Colonel's goals came from Harrison Foster (Saddle River, NJ), John McMenomey (West Linn, OR) and Ronald Jensen (Zionsville, IN).
After another snipe from Jensen, Ben Melaugh (Billerica, MA) retaliated with a goal of his own to keep the Vikings' hopes alive. To answer for Curry, McMenomey struck again on an assist from Arnold that put the Colonels up 7-2 with 12:15 left. Immediately, Alex Pearsons (Burlington, MA) put one past McNair on a beautiful pass from Melaugh to cut the deficit to just four. Curry finished the period adding three more goals from Jenson and Arnold and entered the final period up 10-4.
The Colonels continued their dominance in the first nine minutes of the fourth, tacking on two more goals before the Vikings offensive splurge. Down by eight, Salem State was able to score four unanswered goals coming from Pearsons, Melaugh, Bobby Bourgeois (Billerica, MA) and Kurt Kauppinen (Charlton, MA). Unfortunately, for the Vikings offense it was too late, and Curry was able to escape the late efforts by Salem State to earn a 12-8 victory.
With the starting goalie job still up for grabs, head coach Trevor Eaton went with Dominic Rovetto (Newbury, MA) to start against the Colonels. Rovetto stopped nine shots and allowed five goals. At half, Coach Eaton decided to go with Dylan Svenson (Billerica, MA), who saved eight shots and allowed seven goals. McNair finished with 18 saves and allowed eight goals.
Peter Duggan (Rocky Point, NY) dominated the face-off circle, going 15-23 compared to a Vikings 8-23 on the draw.
The Colonels take the field again when they host the Red Hawks of Montclair State Saturday, March 22nd at 1:00 p.m. The Vikings travel to Buzzards Bay to take on the Buccaneers of Mass Maritime Wednesday March 26th at 7:00 p.m. (Game recap courtesy of Salem State Sports Information)