GORHAM, Maine –Trailing 2-0 following the opening period, the University of Southern Maine men's ice hockey team put home three unanswered goals to take a short-lived 3-2 lead, but non-conference opponent Salem State University stormed back to regain the edge and beat the Huskies in the final home contest before Thanksgiving break.
  
When and Where: Tuesday, November 23, 2021 – USM Ice Arena – Gorham, Maine
 
Score: Vikings, 4, Huskies 3
 
History: This was the 31st meeting between the two programs. Salem State leads the series 17-11-3. 
 
The Records: Southern Maine: 2-4-1; Salem State: 2-4-0.
 
The Goaltenders: senior Anthony D'Aloisio (Frisco, Texas): 1-4-1, 31 saves, .886 save percentage; Joona Sato-Hunsula: 2-4-0, 45 saves, .938 save percentage.
 
Three Stars of the Game:
1st Star: Richard Coyle: game-tying goal, two assists, three points, 10 face-off wins
2nd Star: Joe Smith: game-winning goal, one assist, two points
3rd Star: senior forward Tyler Gardiner (Watertown, Massachusetts)
 
How It Happened/Inside the Box Score:
 
-3:39 into the contest Salem State and Connor Woolley cracked the scoring column. About 10 minutes passed when Erik Larsson converted a power play goal increasing the Vikings' lead to 2-0 early. With 1:09 left in the second stanza, Southern Maine converted the only man-advantage chance of the period off the shot of freshman Mathieu Sabourin (Alexandria, ON, Canada) which was his first career goal cutting the deficit to 2-1. 
 
-The third period saw a combined four goals, two from each team. Senior Adam Withers (Kenora, ON, Canada) deadlocked the score just 1:56 into the third and then Gardiner gave the hosts a 3-2 lead with his second goal of the season. Four minutes passed until Coyle tied the margin at 3-3 and with 4:50 to go Smith notched the game-winner. USM fired multiple pucks on net during the final 2:05 with the empty cage, but couldn't get the tying score. 
 
-USM was a combined 2-for-4 (50%) on the power play in the contest after coming into the game 4-for-22 (18.2%) on the year.
 
-Southern Maine has not beat Salem State since November 22, 2016, when they shut out the Vikings 4-0 on their home ice. USM is 0-2-2 in four games since.
 
Up Next: The navy and gold wrap up their two-game week with an away contest Saturday, November 27th against non-conference opponent Stonehill College at 4:30 p.m.
 
Southern Maine Athletics has gone to fully digital game programs, please click this link to access the game programs to future Husky home events!