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Posted: Mar 01, 2025

Fitchburg State Defeats Salem State in Triple Overtime in MASCAC Semifinals

Fitchburg State Defeats Salem State in Triple Overtime in MASCAC Semifinals
Video Recap Box Score
Scoring Summary
1st - 05:44 - Toivo Kramer (Fitchburg St.)
2nd - 03:29 - Jon Waselko (Salem St.)
2nd - 05:45 - Matteo Orme Lynch (Fitchburg St.)
2nd - 14:59 - Rais Francis (Salem St.)
3rd - 08:32 - Rais Francis (Salem St.)
3rd - 09:02 - Alexandre Bauvais (Fitchburg St.)
6 - 10:36 - Christian Halbig (Fitchburg St.)
Game Leaders
Fitchburg St.
G: 4 Players (#3, #12, #17, #20) - 1
A: Christian Halbig - 2
Sh: 3 Players (#17, #20, #21) - 5
Sv: Max Macchioni - 76
Salem St.
G: Rais Francis - 2
A: 2 Players (#10, #14) - 1
Sh: Rais Francis - 10
Sv: Will Nepveu - 58
Team Stats
Full stats

SALEM, Mass. -- It took just over two and a half overtime periods, 110 minutes of hockey and 141 shots before matters were decided between No. 3 Salem State and No. 4 Fitchburg State at Rockett Arena with a berth in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Tournament Championship game on the line next Saturday, March 8. It wasn't until Christian Halbig (Queenstown, Md.) scored at 10:36 of the third overtime period before a winner was finally declared in an exhilarating battle between two teams committed to continue playing hockey into the month of March.  

Goalies Max Macchioni (North Kingstown, R.I.) of Fitchburg State and Will Nepveu (Montreal, Quebec) of Salem State answered the call countless times in overtime, each giving their respective teams one more chance, until Halbig finally ended the stalemate in the third overtime period. The Falcons (14-12-1) will now await the winner between No. 2 seed Anna Maria and No. 8 seed MCLA, which will be played on Sunday, March 2 to see who they will face for the MASCAC title. Salem State ends their season 19-7, their best showing since their MASCAC Championship team won 22 games in 2016.     

How it Happened:
  • Toivo Kramer (New York, N.Y.) put Fitchburg State on top as he put home a rebound 5:44 into the first period.
  • Nepveu (Montreal, Quebec) kept it a one-goal game as he denied the Falcons twice from point-blank range with 4:30 remaining in the first.  
  • Henry Wilson (Winchester, Mass.) nearly tied the game with a breakaway goal, but his backhander clipped the post and stayed out of the net allowing Macchioni a chance to cover up.
  • Jon Waselko tied the game at 3:39 of the second as his shot along the goal line deflected off of Macchioni and into the net. 
  • Matteo Orme Lynch (Courbevoie, France) gave Fitchburg State a 2-1 lead as he took an uncontested shot from the face off circle, beating Nepveu blocker side at 5:45 of the second.
  • Rais Francis (Nottingham, United Kingdom) tied the game again for Salem State, when he put a loose puck in from the crease at 14:59 of the second. 
  • Francis gave Salem State their first lead of the night as he kept the puck in the zone and beat Macchioni from just outside the face off circle for a 3-2 Viking's lead 8:32 into the second.
  • The Falcons though answered :40 seconds later as Alexandre Bauvais (Meudon, France) redirected a shot past Nepveu, tying the game at 3-3. 
  • Both goalies combined for 49 saves over the first two overtime periods, as they were continuously tested.
  • Finally just over halfway through the third overtime, Halbig took a shot from the point that beat Nevpeau for the game-winner. 

Inside the Numbers:  

  • Macchioni (4-3) made 76 saves to earn the win. 
  • Nepveu (17-6) stopped 58-of-62 attempts.
  • The Gustavus/Augsburg game in 2010 is the longest Division III game at 138 minutes and 38 seconds.