COLCHESTER, Vt. - Castleton had a 2-1 lead midway through the third period, but a late goal by St. Michael's tied it and the Purple Knights came all the way back in overtime to earn the 3-2 victory over the Spartans on Saturday afternoon.

The defeat is the sixth straight for the Spartans who drop to 6-11 on the season and 5-6 in the ECAC East. St. Michael's, meanwhile, improves to 2-15-1 overall with the victory.

St. Michael's lit the lamp first, scoring 6:25 into the first period on Madelena Santore's (Millington, N.J.) eighth goal of the season. Senior Meagan Hulbert (Barre, Vt.) responded at the 17:40 mark of the first with her third score of the season. Junior Danielle Roberts (St. Albans, Vt.) and senior Marissa Lorenz (Jericho, Vt.) were credited with assists on the play.

The Spartans grabbed their lone lead near the end of the second, as freshman Molly Howard (Shelburne, Vt.) found the back of the net with just 2:01 remaining in the period. Junior Jade Werger (Maple Ridge, B.C.) earned an assist on the play.

Castleton kept the Purple Knights at bay for the next 20 minutes, however, St. Michael's finally broke through for the equalizer with just 1:05 left in the contest on a goal by Kristen Spulecki (Orchard Park, N.Y.) off an assist by Santore.

In overtime St. Michael's got the only two shots of the period and made them count, getting the game-winner just 14 seconds in off a shot by Maire Bartkus (Acton, Mass.).

Junior Katharyn Dembowski (Elkridge, Md.) made 23 saves in net while Erin Stevens (Watertown, Conn.) was forced to make 29 stops between the pipes.

The Spartans return to the ice on Sunday at 3 p.m. when they travel to take on Norwich.