RUTLAND, Vt. – The Spartans were denied for the first two periods but finally broke through in the third with a goal to win their first game of the season, 1-0 over St. Michael's College on Saturday evening at Spartan Arena.

Junior Jade Werger (Maple Ridge, B.C.) provided the game's lone goal 2:02 into the final period and the Castleton defense did the rest, led by another outstanding effort from goaltender Katharyn Dembowski (Elkridge, Md.). The junior turned away 30 shots to earn the shutout and her first win of the season.

Neither team was able to score in the first period as the Purple Knights took nine shots and Castleton was one better with ten. One of the Spartans' best chances of the period came with 3:22 remaining, as Molly Howard's (Shelburne, Vt.) backhanded attempt in front of the net was blocked away by Erin Stevens (Watertown, Conn.).

Just over eight minutes into the second, Stephanie Bardell (Erwinna, Pa.) thought she had an open-net goal off a rebound, but Stevens was able to glove it out of nowhere and prevent the score. Castleton continued to pressure the net, outshooting St. Michael's 13-10 in the period.

The Spartans finally broke through in the third when Werger received the puck just past mid-ice on a pass from Hanna Martini (Fayston, Vt.) and carried it into the zone before lifting a wrist shot over Stevens' right shoulder for her first goal of the season.

St. Michael's had a chance to tie it up three minutes later on a two-on-one, but Dembowski anticipated the pass and made a sprawling stop to preserve the lead. 

Neither team was able to connect on the power play as Castleton was 0-for-6 and St. Michael's was 0-for-4. Stevens made 28 saves in net for the visitors as they drop to 0-2 on the season.

The Spartans improve to 1-3, and 1-1 in the ECAC Women's West with the win. They return to the ice on Nov. 18 when they travel to play at Plymouth St. at 6 p.m.