March 1, 2008

Salem State advances to ECAC East Men’s Ice Hockey Semifinal with 6-3 win over Castleton

Rutland, VT-Sixth-seeded Salem State College defeated #3 Castleton State College 6-3 in ECAC East men’s ice hockey quarterfinal action at the Rutland Regional Fieldhouse. The Vikings received two goals and one assist from sophomore Aaron Blades and Mike Genovese, as they improve to 15-10-1 and advance to the tournament semifinal round.

Castleton opened the scoring 11:11 into the game on Stuart Stefan’s 11th goal of the season. Junior captain, Brandon Heck wrestled the puck from behind the net and delivered a pass directly to Stefan who sent a wrist shot just over the glove of Salem State goalie Ryan Hatch.

In the second period Salem State out scored the Spartans 4-1 behind Blades and Genovese. The duo teamed up to put the Vikings on the board 5:41 into the period with a shorthanded goal. Genovese stole the puck and passed ahead to Blades who sent a sprawling backhander past Castleton goalie, Jeff Swanson. The Spartans answered on Evan Romeo’s power play goal with 14 minutes remaining, but Salem State would score three unanswered goals in the period to take a 4-2 lead into the second intermission. Chris MacInnis punched a rebound past Swanson’s glove side after a save on Justin Fox’s slap-shot. Five minutes later Blades notched his second of the period with a one timer, assisted by Damen Nisula. The Vikings rounded out the scoring on a beauty with just over three minutes remaining. Blades sent a pass to Nisula behind the net, who then passed it back out to the point and was one timed home by Genovese. Castleton’s Kirk Bolduc had an opportunity to get one back with 1:40 remaining but his breakaway attempt went begging off the crossbar.

The score would remain 4-2 until 1:42 remaining in the third period when Zach Doyon tallied a power-play goal. Swanson went behind the net to clear the puck but had it knocked away by David Pazzaglia, and Doyon stuffed it into the vacated net. Genovese tallied his second of the game just 7 seconds later when he stole the puck off the face-off and beat Swanson one-on-one to make it 6-2. The Spartans salvaged a goal with Swanson pulled with just 10 seconds remaining as Evan Romeo tallied his second of the game.

###Spartans###