By Adam Levine
Interim Sports Editor
The Framingham State Rams lost to the Salem State Vikings 7-2 in an away matchup Jan. 28.
Salem recorded 47 shots on goal and won 84 faceoffs, while Framingham recorded 33 shots on goal and won 33 faceoffs.
The Vikings started the game by scoring two goals within the first 5 minutes of the game and took an early 2-0 lead.
Over the next 5 minutes, two different Salem players each received minor penalty calls and spent 2 minutes in the penalty box. Framingham was not able to score off of either power play.
In the 17th minute of the first period, the Rams’ forward, Jerry Ducket, committed a minor slashing penalty and was sent to the penalty box for 2 minutes.
Ducket’s penalty gave Salem a power play, which they used to score their third goal of the game in the final minute of the first period.
The first period ended with Salem leading by a score of 3-0.
Salem won the opening faceoff of the second period and scored a goal 8 seconds later. The Vikings took a 4-0 lead in the opening seconds of the second period.
A minute after the Vikings’ fourth goal, the Rams’ forward, Matt Irwin, received a minor penalty call. Framingham’s defense stopped the Vikings from scoring off of the power play.
At 4:54 into the second period, the Rams’ forward, Ashton Collazo, received a penalty for roughing, which sent him to the penalty box for 2 minutes.
Just over a minute later, Salem was able to score off of the power play. They took a lead of 5-0 with 14 minutes left to play in the second period.
Collazo got out of the penalty box and scored less than a minute later. Collazo was assisted by his teammate, fellow forward Joey Lizzote.
After the game, Collazo said, “After the goal, we had very good zone time and pressure, and we just couldn’t get a bounce and that energy fizzled out.”
In the 17th minute of the second period, two of Framingham’s players and one of Salem’s players were all awarded penalties.
The second period ended with no score from either side. Salem entered the third period maintaining their 5-1 lead over the Rams.
After 2:17 of the third period passed, Collazo received his second penalty of the game.
After 4:42 of the third period passed, the Vikings scored their sixth goal of the game. Salem took a 6-1 lead with 15 minutes remaining in the game.
Salem maintained their 6-1 lead for another 2 minutes of play. Salem’s Ryan Barrett received a minor penalty call, which sent him to the penalty box for 2 minutes.
The Rams’ forward, John Baker, scored 30 seconds into the power play. Baker was assisted by teammates defender Partick Colgan and defender Luca Olivo.
Over the next 7 minutes, two of Framingham’s players and one of Salem’s players all received minor penalties. Neither team scored off of the power plays.
With 35 seconds remaining in the game, Salem scored the final goal, finishing with a 7-2 victory over Framingham.
As of presstime, the Rams lost to UMass Dartmouth, Feb. 2, and now hold a conference record of 3-10-1 and an overall record of 5-13-1.
The Rams have five games remaining in their season.
Collazo said, “People should be excited about FSU hockey.
“We have a lot of talent, young and old, and we are only improving year to year. I think we have a special opportunity this year to do something the school has not seen in a long time if we are able to make the playoffs,” added Collazo.
Colgan, who led the Rams in shooting by recording six shots, said, “I try to lead by example and if I don’t perform well on the ice that night, it isn’t for lack of effort.
“We’re in a place now that each game becomes more important as we’re getting closer to playoffs and I think that the game against Salem showed we have a lot of learning still to do,” added Colgan.
Framingham will travel to Fitchburg State for another conference matchup Feb. 4.