Clinton, NY - Lindsey Gullett tallied three goals, and Jeremy Hilliard scored 59 seconds into overtime to lead Castleton to a 5-4 win at Hamilton in ECAC Men's East/NESCAC cross-over action at Russell Sage Rink.
Both freshman, it was Gullett's first collegiate hat-trick and Hilliard's first game-winner. It comes a week after classmate Cody Ayers recorded his first collegiate hat-trick in a win versus Tufts.
Mike Anderson and Omar Pacha were credited with assists on Hilliard's third goal this season.
Seth McNary made 21 saves for Castleton (8-7-2 overall, 4-5-2 ECAC East). The Spartans are 3-1-2 in overtime games this season.
Hamilton's Joe Buicko scored a goal for the second straight game and added an assist. Chris Lorenc recorded three assists for the Continentals (6-9-1, 5-6-0 NESCAC). Hamilton has lost three straight games, including the last two in overtime.
The Continentals led 2-1 after one period, but Castleton tied the score on the sixth goal this season by Steve Culbertson at 8:24 of the second. Jerome Wallace put Hamilton back in front with his second goal this season while the Continentals played with six skaters due to a delayed penalty with 3:10 left in the period. Ryan Guerin then made it 4-2 with his first goal with 59.3 seconds remaining.
The Spartans, thanks to Gullett, weren't finished. He scored his second goal of the afternoon at 7:51 of the third period to pull Castleton within one. Hamilton starting goalie Scott Hefferman (17 saves) was injured on the play and was replaced by Ian Stearns. Gullett tied the score just 44 seconds later with his fourth goal this season to send the game to overtime.
The Spartans held a 32-25 advantage in shots. The Continentals went 1-for-4 on the power play and killed both Castleton opportunities.
Castleton returns home for a ECAC East tilt with Babson College Friday, January 30. The game will feature a pre-game ceremony in which the Rutland Amateur Hockey Association (RAHA) will officially unveil its new name, uniforms and logo to the public. RAHA, which for years carried the moniker, "The Raptors," will now be known as the "Jr. Spartans" and have designed a logo that closely resembles that of Castleton's. The game will also feature the annual Castleton food drive, anyone who brings a non-perishable food item will receive free admission.
