The LaSalle Vipers dropped their regular season finale in a 6-3 loss to the St. Marys Lincolns on Sunday night in LaSalle.
The Lincolns scored three times in the opening frame and then chased Vipers netminder Ian Michelone when Luca Spagnola made it 4-0 early in the second. The Vipers picked up their play in the second with Carson Woodall scoring on a power-play midway through the period, but it was really all they could muster in an otherwise lacklustre performance. St. Marys would score two more on Tre Altiman in the third to make it 6-1, and although the home side were able to get two late goals, the outcome was never in doubt as the buzzer sounded on a 6-3 win for the visitors.
The win secured third-place for the Lincolns and left the Vipers in fourth to set up a Western Conference Quarterfinal series with the Chatham Maroons. The Vipers won five of the six regular-season meetings against the Maroons with most of the games being very tight and highly competitive. The Vipers finished the season with 33 wins, their most since the 2016-17 season when they won 37.
Prior to the game, Vipers captain Spencer Lecot was recognized in a ceremony for his final regular-season home game. He was joined on the ice by parents Rhonda and Devin, and despite the loss, would go on to have a memorable night. He assisted on Andrew Kotevski’s third-period goal to become the franchise’s all-time leader in points by a defenseman, surpassing Abdul Abouzeeni’s mark of 95.
Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinal will be Wednesday, March 1 in LaSalle, with opening faceoff slated for 7:00 PM.
