FALMOUTH, Mass.—Salem State University scored a pair of goals just 32 seconds apart early in the third period on its way to defeating Babson College, 3-2, in non-conference men's ice hockey action on Saturday at the Falmouth Ice Arena.

Senior Charlie Ackerman (Bradenton, Fla.) finished with a goal and an assist, while junior Tommy Munichiello (Weymouth, Mass.) scored once for the Beavers. Seniors Ryan Gouveia (Dartmouth, Mass.) and Joe DePietto (Westbury, Mass.) both chipped in with an assist, and junior goaltender Matt Pompa (Palm City, Fla.) recorded 16 saves in the loss.

Senior Michael Casale (Stoney Creek, Ontario), classmate Derek Makimaa (Swartz Creek, Mich.) and junior Parker Wood (Rochester Hills, Mich.) all scored for the Vikings, who got 49 saves from senior netminder Jason Pucciarelli (Newmarket, Onatario). 

The Green and White outshot Salem State 21-9 in the opening period, but fell behind 1-0 on Casale's goal at the 17:02 mark. The Beavers responded less than two minutes later though, as Ackerman ripped a shot from the point past Pucciarelli for a power play goal with 1:06 to go in the stanza.

The three best scoring chances of the second period all came in the final 90 seconds of the frame. Wood (Rochester Hills, Mich.) and Babson senior Rob Devaney (Reading, Mass.) missed high and wide, respectively, before Pompa denied Makimaa's blast from the right circle with 3.6 seconds to go to keep the game deadlocked.

Salem State went in front for good with the teams playing 4-on-4 early in the third period. Wood stuffed home a centering feed from sophomore Parker Stevens (St. Louis, Mo.) just 1:14 into the frame, and Makimaa striped a Beavers' defenseman at the blue line and buried the breakaway chance to make it 3-1 just 32 seconds later.

The Green and White pulled Pompa for good with 2:14 left and cut its deficit to one when Munichiello tipped home Ackerman's shot from the point with 29 seconds remaining. Pucciarelli made a blocker save on Gouveia in the waning seconds to help close out the win.

The Beavers, who finished 1-for-6 on the power play, outshot the Vikings 51-19 on the afternoon.

Babson (0-1) returns to action on Friday when it visits Castleton at 7 p.m., while Salem State (1-0) travels to Westfield State on Thursday at 7:35 p.m.

GAME NOTES
• Proceeds from Saturday's contest went to the 10-19 Foundation, which was started in honor of James Lavin and Owen Higgins who lost their lives in a tragic car accident last September.
• The Beavers are now 23-19-6 all-time against Salem State.
• Babson is 5-4-0 in its last nine season openers going back to 2009.