PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Junior Nicole Ruman (Riverside, Calif.) had a goal and an assist while classmate Katharyn Dembowski (Elkridge, Md.) made 20 saves Friday evening as Castleton State College skated past Plymouth State University, 4-0, in an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Women's East hockey game at Hanaway Rink.

Ruman scored the only goal the Spartans would need on a power play six minutes into the first period, and then assisted on a third-period insurance marker. The Spartans went on to the victory, improving to 2-3 overall and 2-1 in conference play, while PSU drops to 0-2-1 both overall and in the ECAC Women's East. The shutout was the second straight for Dembowski, who hasn't allowed a goal over her last seven periods of action.

After Ruman had given the Spartans a 1-0 lead with her first goal of the season, sophomore Stephanie Bardell (Erwinna, Pa.) tallied her first goal as well, at 12:02, and Castleton owned a 2-0 margin after one period.

A series of events early in the second period changed the momentum. PSU had a short-handed breakaway in the first two minutes of the frame, but Dembowski made the save and moments later, junior Hanna Martini (Fayston, Vt.) scored for Castleton to make it a 3-0 game.

Freshman Molly Howard (Shelburne, Vt.) rounded out the scoring for Castleton with her first career goal 1:38 into the third period.

Castleton finished with a 34-20 advantage in shots on goal.  Sophomore goaltender Ali Ponte (Richmond Hill, Ont.) made 30 saves in the Panther goal.

The Spartans return to the ice on Saturday when they move on to the University of Southern Maine for a 1:00 p.m. face-off.