Southern Maine Shuts Out Salem State 1-0

            GORHAM, Maine -- Senior Todd Bannerman (Georgetown, Ont.) scored the only goal of the game with 8:49 remaining in the third period as the University of Southern Maine Huskies shut out the visiting Salem State University Vikings 1-0 in a non-conference men's ice hockey game Tuesday evening at the USM Ice Arena.

            The win snapped a two-game losing skid for the Huskies, and got them back to .500 at 4-4 overall.  The Vikings dropped their second straight one-goal decision to fall back to .500 at 3-3.

            Bannerman took a pass from freshman Parker Sanderson (Bangor, Maine) and beat Salem State sophomore goalie Jason Pucciarelli (Newmarket, Ont.) from the high slot just inside the right post.  The goal was the fourth of the season for Bannerman.

            The goal stood up as USM sophomore goaltender Kyle Shapiro (Ocean, N.J.) stopped all 24 shots he faced to earn his first collegiate shutout.  Shapiro came up big with about five minutes to play stopping a redirected shot on goal by junior John Needham (Medford, Mass.), and the rebound took a fortunate bounce over a Salem State forward's stick.

            Southern Maine finished the game with a 26-24 edge in shots on goal.  Pucciarelli made 25 saves before being lifted for the extra skater with 43 seconds to play as the Vikings pressed for a tying goal.

            Southern Maine returns to the USM Ice Arena on Saturday (4:00 p.m.) to host Wentworth Institute of Technology in non-conference action.  Salem State is back in action on Sunday (1:35 p.m.) at Suffolk University. 

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