RUTLAND, Vt. – Junior forward Sterling Nelson (Madison, Conn.) netted the game-winning goal with under a minute remaining to give Castleton a 3-2 win over Buffalo St. in non-conference women's ice hockey action on Sunday afternoon at Spartan Arena.

The Spartans improve to 1-1-0 on the season. The Bengals fall to 1-1-0.

With under a minute left-to-go, Eileen Coyne (No. Attleboro, Mass.) gained possession of a loose puck at the left faceoff circle and fed Laura Szwed (White Lake, Mich.) in the slot. Then, Szwed set up Nelson near the right post and Nelson banged home her second opportunity past Buffalo St. goaltender Alyssa Koniar (New Berlin, Wisc.) for her first goal of the season.

In the first period on the power play, Kailyn Murray (Medicine, Hat, Alb.) opened up the scoring for the Bengals redirecting a shot from the top of the point by teammate Katie Olejarski (Rockford, Ill.) behind Castleton goaltender Amanda Hoy (Brockport, N.Y.) for a 1-0 lead at 10:19.

In the second period in a 4-on-4 situation, Szwed found the equalizer at 13:58 stuffing home a second chance opportunity at the doorstep past Koniar.

Courtney Carnes (Winslow, Maine) regained the lead for Buffalo St. in the third period at 3:00 sniping a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle into the top corner of the net over Hoy's blocker for a 2-1 advantage.

Just one minute and 45 seconds later, Hannah Martini (Fayston, Vt.) tied the contest at 2-2 slipping in a loose puck stationed in the crease behind Koniar.

Hoy finished the afternoon with 19 saves while Koniar stopped 21 shots.

The Spartans return to action on Friday, November 5 in Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) East action, on the road, against Norwich University at 7:00 p.m.