RUTLAND, Vt. – Junior forward Cheryl Pitts (Wakefield, Mass.) potted the game-winning goal at 9:09 of the third period to lead Nichols over Castleton, 1-0, in ECAC East action at Spartan Arena on "Pink the Rink" Night in front of 520 fans.

The Spartans along with the Rutland Regional Medical Center (RRMC) and the Foley Cancer Center joined forces, for the second-straight season, to "Pink the Rink" and raise breast cancer awareness. All proceeds from tonight's ticket sales were donated to the Breast Care Program at RRMC. Castleton also wore collectors' edition pink jerseys donated by RRMC during the game. All jerseys were purchased through an online auction held prior to tonight's game, with all proceeds being donated back to the Breast Care Program.

Nichols improves to 4-15-0 overall on the season and 3-10-0 in the ECAC East. Castleton falls to 5-12-2 and 3-9-1 in the ECAC East.

Scoreless after two periods, Pitts netted her first goal of the season wristing home a loose puck in front of the crease past Spartans' goaltender Katharyn Dembowski (Elkridge, Md.) after an initial save was made on Mary Fehr's (Leamington, Ont.) slapshot from the top of the left faceoff circle.

Freshman goaltender Francesca Palazzo (Bernardston, Mass.) registered her first-collegiate shutout turning away 24 shots, including nine in the first period, to push her record to 3-12-0 on the season. Dembowski made 29 saves in net for Castleton.

The Spartans return to action tomorrow as they host Manhattanville at Spartan Arena at 3 pm.