Amherst was blanked, 7-0, Friday night by visiting ECAC East foe Salem State College. Viking junior goaltender Kaleb Christenson recorded 23 saves to earn the shutout, while senior forward Chris Stark tallied a hat trick and an assist to pace the visitors.
The Vikings drew first blood 6:33 into the game on the power play when Stark fired a wrister from the top of the left circle through the legs of a screened Justin Jagher. Salem State added another first-period goal when sophomore forward Ryan Ferguson blasted a slap shot into the back of the net.
Stark scored his second goal of the game 4:34 into the second when he blasted a one-timer off a feed from sophomore forward Mike Veins. Amherst had a goal disallowed moments later due to an early whistle when senior forward Bob Miele dug the puck out from underneath Christenson and slid it into the net.
Stark completed his hat trick 13:23 into the second when he gathered a rebound and lifted a backhand shot past Jagher.
With the loss, the Jeffs fall to 3-7-3 overall and 3-3-2 in conference play, while the Vikings improve to 7-5, 4-4. Amherst returns to action Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. against visiting Southern Maine.
