College Notebook: Ortiz, Grassa shining for Salem State

It has not been the best of seasons for the Salem State men’s basketball team to this point but a pair of local products have put together outstanding senior seasons.
Lynn’s Nick Grassa and Salem’s Bryan Ortiz spent the better part of four years battling tooth-and-nail against each other in the Northeastern Conference and now they are serving as two of the three captains for the Vikings this season.
Ortiz’s 14.4 points per game currently ranks him fifth in the MASCAC and his 39 three-point field goals are second on the Vikings. He had a team-high 17 points in a loss to Bridgewater State last week.
Grassa, meanwhile, is second on the team at 11.9 points per game and he has a team-leading 48 three-pointers. He also had a standout game against Bridgewater State, finishing with 14 points as five Vikings in all recorded double figures.
SEVERAL SALEM STATE ATHLETES HONORED BY MASCAC
Salem State men?s hockey sophomore goaltender Marcus Zelter was named the MASCAC’s goalie of the week on Monday after his 23-save performance in a 2-1 win over Worcester State. Zelter’s teammate, Andrew Bettencourt, was named to the MASCAC honor roll.
A junior forward, Bettencourt had a four-point week as he turned in two goals and two assists in wins over Fitchburg State and Worcester State.
Rachel Carter, a senior guard for the SSU women’s basketball team, also was named to the MASCAC honor roll on Monday. Carter had 25 points, 10 rebounds and three steals in a 64-61 loss to MCLA on Friday.
VECCHIONE PUTTING UP REMARKABLE NUMBERS AT UNION
A year after bursting on to the scene as a part of Union College’s national championship, Saugus’ Mike Vecchione hasn’t missed a beat for the Dutchmen this season.
Vecchione, a Malden Catholic product, currently ranks third in the nation with his 38 points and is tops in assists with 24. His linemate, Daniel Ciampini, is the nation’s leading scorer with 22 goals and 41 points.
The player who is between them? That’s Boston University freshman Jack Eichel, who is a consensus top-two pick in this summer’s NHL entry draft.
All three players are in the running to be part of the Hobey Hat Trick finalists that will be eligible to win the Hobey Baker Award when it is awarded during the Division 1 Men’s Frozen Four which will be held at TD Garden in Boston this March.The Dutchmen currently sit at 13-11-2 but are only 5-8-1 in ECAC conference play following a 4-4 tie against No. 6 ranked Harvard on Friday night at the Bright-Landry Hockey Center in Cambridge.