CHARLESTOWN, Mass. – Behind a career-high, two-goal effort from John Garrity, Suffolk men's hockey wrapped up the first semester portion of its 2019-20 schedule in the win column with a 4-3 victory against Salem State Tuesday night at Emmons Horrigan O'Neil Memorial Rink.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 4 | Salem State 3
RECORDS: Suffolk (4-7-1) | Salem State (2-6-2) 

HOW IT HAPPENED
Garrity's first goal of the day opened the scoring 7:24 into the first frame. The sophomore collected the puck from Phil Kreuser above the left face-off circle, wristed it over Joona Sato-Hunsula right shoulder to give the Rams' the one-goal edge.  

With less than five minutes remaining in the first period, Derek Scoggins leveled the playing field on the power play. After a face off the puck shifted across the blue line into the neutral zone and Scoggin's long-range shot barreled through bodies, off the post and into the netting to make it a 1-all game at the 15:43 minute mark. Matt Yianacopolus and Billy McGwin assisted on the game-tying goal.  

Tom Ignatovich's shot from the blue line with just over a minute to play in the first was tipped in front by Michael Shippee to send Salem State into the locker room ahead, 2-1. Callus Hofford helped the Vikings take the one-goal lead.  

The Rams responded in the middle period. The blue-and-gold won a scuffle in the corner, sent the puck out to the blue line where Joe Vingi rifted into the slot and wristed a shot blocker side to even the non-conference clash at 2-all at the 13:17 minute mark.  

Nearly four minutes later, Garrity gave the blue-and-gold the advantage for the second and final time on the day. This time, he cut off a Salem pass for a one-on-one with Sato-Hunsula. He scored blocker side to make it a 3-2 Suffolk score. Kreuser poked the puck to Garrity to set up the fast-break eventual game-winner marker with 3:47 left on the clock in the second period.  

Shawn Montgomery tacked on an insurance tally 43 seconds out of the second intermission when the sophomore picked up Nick Lachaine's pass between Sato-Hunsula and post for an easy score that pushed Rams cushion to a pair, 4-2.  

Salem State trimmed the margin back to one 3:39 into the third quarter. From there, Suffolk backed up Cal Wilcox between the pipes to hold on for the 4-3 triumph.  

NETMINDER NOTES

• Wilcox stopped 27 shots for the victory. 
• Sato-Hunsula tallied 22 saves in the setback.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Garrity netted two goals with Montgomery and Vingi accounting for the other two. 
• Roche and Kreuser each set-up two scores. 
• Alex Kolowrat, Max Rand and Lachaine all handed out one assist. 
• Salem State out shot Suffolk, 30-26. 
• The Rams edged out the Vikings in the face-off battle, 39-37.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk defeated Salem State for the second straight meeting to move to 2-2-2 all-time against the Vikings. 
• The two wins in a row against the Vikings is a first for the Rams in the all-time series. 
• Garrity scored a career-high two goals to match a personal-best two points. 
• Kreuser dished out a personal-high two helpers and matched a career-best two points. 
• Montgomery and Vingi each netted their first goal of the year, which matched their career-high in goals (1). The latter also matched his personal-best in points (1). 
• Kolowrat and Ran each career highs in assists with one each. 
• Roche recorded a new personal-best in points (2) and assists (2). 
• Wilcox won his second collegiate game.  

POST-GAME PIC
  

WHAT'S AHEAD?
After a break for finals and the holiday, Suffolk will lace up its skates again after the New Year when it treks to Trinity Saturday, Jan. 4. Game time in Hartford, Connecticut is set for 7:30 p.m.