Box Score SALEM, Mass. – Senior Zac Smith (Wilbraham, Mass.) potted four goals in Nichols College's 15-11 loss at Salem State University Tuesday afternoon in non-conference action at Alumni Field.
 
Junior Michael Bane (North Grafton, Mass.) added three goals as the Bison (2-1) suffered their first loss of the season. Classmate Corey Davis (Wakefield, Mass.) registered two goals and two assists while sophomore Anthony Verville (Portland, Maine) tallied a goal and an assist.
 
Ben Melaugh (Billerica, Mass.) recorded five points on two goals and as assist as the Vikings evened their record at 2-2.
 
Max Gasenberg (Beverly, Mass.) sparked the Vikings offensively with an early goal on an assist from Nate Staples (Salem, Mass.). Salem State jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead led by Bobby Bourgeois (Billerica, Mass.) and Jacob Scordato (Milford, Mass.), who scored on man-up opportunities. Melaugh was credited with two assists in the first period.
 
Alex Pearsons (Burlington, Mass.) added to the Vikings lead on a goal assisted from captain Ian Abrahamson (Billerica, Mass.). Six seconds later, Staples took the face-off all the way down the field to give the Vikings a 6-0 lead with 14:37 remaining.
 
Bane put the Bison on the board with two quick goals on back-to-back possessions to cut Nichols' deficit to just four. However, the Vikings retaliated with six unanswered goals coming from Scordato, Melaugh, Borgeois, Andy Rice (Weymouth, Mass.), Sean Quinlan (Lowell, Mass.) and Matt Whited (Falmouth, Mass.) that allowed Vikings to enter the half with a comfortable 12-2 lead.

After another Rice score, the Vikings frequent goal scoring was put to a halt in the second half. The Bison scored nine goals – including five unanswered in the fourth – which allowed Nicholas to come within four goals of the Vikings. Smith three-consecutive goals for the Bison which was a big part of their late come back.

Salem State goaltender Dominic Rovetto (Newbury, Mass.) played exceptionally well during the first half allowing only two goals on seven shot attempts. With the starting goalie job is up for grabs, Dylan Svenson (Billerica, Mass.) played the entire second half. Svenson allowed nine goals and made eight saves. Rovetto was credited with the win.
 
Nichols sophomore goaltender Peter Zygadlo (Hanover, Mass.) played all 60 minutes and recorded 14 saves. Melaugh led the Vikings with five points with two goals and three assists to compliment Bourgeois' three goals and one assists.
 
Junior Sean Coates (Grafton, Mass.) collected a game-high eight balls for Nichols while freshman Kevin D'Angelo (Pelham, N.H.) finished with five.
 
The Bison host UMass Dartmouth Saturday at 1 p.m. The Vikings host Emmanuel Monday at 7:00 p.m.