RUTLAND, Vt. – The No. 7 Spartans started slow but came back to score five unanswered goals on Saturday and earn 5-1 a victory over the University of Southern Maine at Spartan Arena to improve to 2-0 on the season.

Sophomore Nick Lazorko (Rockwall, Texas) recorded his first career hat trick and was one of three goal scorers for Castleton. The Spartan defense was strong after giving up an early goal, holding the Huskies without a score on five power-play opportunities. Sophomore Erick Cinotti (Mahwah, N.J.) stopped 29 shots in his first start of the season.

USM capitalized on an early penalty by the Spartans, scoring just 1:55 into the contest on a goal Dan Rautenberg (Cape Elizabeth, Maine). Rautenberg fired on a partially open net after collecting a rebound off a shot by David Nies (Brookline, Mass.).

The score remained 1-0 until the 17:56 mark, when Colin Murray (Oshawa, Ont.) ripped a shot from the point that was deflected by junior Justin Alonzo (San Jose, Calif.) toward Lazorko. The sophomore was able to get his stick on the puck to redirect it into the back of the net, tying the score at one.

Castleton made it 2-1 with just 45 seconds remaining in the period when sophomore Dan Bell (Victoria, B.C.) took a pass from junior Chris Wieland (Royal Palm Beach, Fla.) on the boards, made a quick move and fired a wrister past Braely Torris (Eckville, Alb.).

In the second, the Spartans struck quickly, scoring just 1:19 into the period on a good individual effort by Lazorko. The sophomore had his pass attempt blocked by a diving defender on a 2-on-1, fortunately the puck came right back to him and he fired a wrist shot over the left shoulder of Torris for his third goal of the season.

Just 4:38 minutes later Castleton added to its lead on a one-timer by Weiland in front of the net off assists from Murray and Bell.

Lazorko finished his hat trick at the 10:20 mark when he came out of the penalty box and immediately got a lead pass from Dru Douglas (Whitby, Ont.) for a breakaway attempt. Going at Torris, he made a quick fake left before going back right and backhanding it over the sprawled out goaltender and into the goal.

Both the Spartans and the Huskies had numerous attempts in the final period but couldn't get one past either goaltender.

Torris finished the afternoon with 31 saves for the USM who drops to 1-1 on the season and 1-1 in the ECAC Men's East.

Castleton returns to action on Friday, Nov. 11, when the Spartans travel to take on New England College at 7 p.m.