CONWAY, Ark. - The Vikings (6-7, 2-3 SAA) got back into the win column after defeating the Hendrix College Warriors 9-6. Michael Beirne led the scoring effort for the Vikings, finishing the day with three goals.
Michael Beirne continued his stellar season with a hat trick and an assist, while Finn McClendon and Davis Witherspoon each added two key goals. Evan Cuffe was instrumental as well with 8 timely saves in goal.
Both teams got off to a slow start in the first period, taking their time to execute their game plans. The Vikings came out attempting to push the pace, slinging the ball for ten shots in the period, but the Warriors were the ones who struck first, securing the only goal for the period between both teams to send Berry into the first break down a goal.
The Warriors kept their momentum from the first period, taking two minutes to extend their lead in the second, but Michael Beirne finally got the day started for the Vikings with a response. Davis Witherspoon quickly followed his effort, knotting the score before a minute elapsed. With a renewed game, both teams battled down the stretch of the first half, and Tad Zappa put the score in favor of the Vikings before it ended; the score 4-3 entering the half.
Finn McClendon came out of the break on fire, finding the back of the net for two straight goals to push the Viking lead to three as the second half got going. Despite the momentum being in their favor early, the Vikings couldn't pad their lead, and Hendrix put together a run to tie the score with three minutes left in the period. Berry had a shot to go back up by one before the period ended, but couldn't convert, entering the final period knotted at six.
It was a tight contest early in the fourth as both teams fought to go ahead. Davis Witherspoon won the battle, creating the advantage for Berry with his second goal of the day with eleven minutes left in the game. The Warriors remained within shouting distance until Michael Beirne completed the hat-trick and extended the lead to three with four minutes left. With a comfortable lead, the Vikings just had to let the clock run out to seal their win, the final score 9-6.
The Vikings continue to Georgetown, Texas, to face the Southwestern University Pirates in their final game of the regular season next Saturday, April 25. The game starts at 2:00 p.m.
