Middlebury held a 3-0 lead over Salem State and held on for a 3-2 victory in the team's home-opener in Kenyon Arena. The Panthers held a 30-10 shots advantage in the game and return to action on Saturday at 4:00 against Southern Maine.
Middlebury took a 1-0 lead at 10:44 as Chaz Svoboda's shot from the left side was saved before Bryan Curran pounced on the rebound with an open net. The Panthers ended the first period with a 15-1 shots advantage.
Following a pair of unsuccessful power plays, Middlebury made it a 2-0 game at the 11:27 mark of the second period. Ken Suchoski drove in from the right side as his shot hit the pads of Ryan Hatch before Scott Bartlett put home the rebound. Tom Maldonado gave the Panthers a 3-0 lead with four seconds to go in the period as he scored from the right point with a wrister on the power play.
Salem State got on the board at 5:23 of the second period, taking advantage of a turnover. Zach Doyen picked up the puck in the zone and quickly fed Justin Fox, who snapped a shot to the top left corner. The Vikings made it a one-goal game with 1:22 remaining as Sam Cannata's shot from the right point found the back of the net off the crossbar. Just after the power play goal, Fox had a chance to tie it from the slot, but was denied by a save from Ross Cherry.
Middlebury maintained possession of the puck for the final minute, as the Vikings were unable to pull Hatch, who ended the night with 27 saves. Cherry made eight stops between the pipes to pick up the win.
Date: November 30, 2007 - 7:00 p.m.
Venue: Kenyon Arena - Site: Middlebury, Vt.
TEAM 1 2 3 OT F
Salem St. (2-2) 0 0 2 - 2
Middlebury (3-1-1) 1 2 0 - 3
SCORING
M-1st (10:44) - Bryan Curran (Chaz Svoboda, Jamie McKenna)
M-2nd (11:27) - Scott Bartlett (Ken Suchoski, Svoboda)
M-2nd (19:56) - PP: Tom Maldonado (Mickey Gilchrist, John Sullivan)
S-3rd (5:23) - Justin Fox (Zach Doyen)
S-3rd (18:38) - PP: Sam Cannata (David Pazzaglia)
GOALTENDING (saves)
Ross Cherry-M (60 min., 8 saves, 3 GA)
Ryan Hatch-S (60 min., 27 saves, 2 GA)
