POTSDAM, N.Y. – Ben Schoeneberger (Vernon, Conn.) made sure the Spartans didn't see their first three-game losing streak of the season, registering a hat-trick and three assists to lead No. 4 Castleton State College to a convincing 9-1 win at Potsdam State.
One night after falling to No. 3 Plattsburgh State for the second-straight game, the Spartans once again found themselves in an early deficit after a Mike Foy (Markham, Ontario) power-play goal put the Bears on top 1-0 five minutes into the contest.
Schoeneberger drew the Spartans even at the 8:36 mark of the first period off assists from Josh Harris (Torrance, Calif.) and Tyler Atkins (Brockville, Ontario). Five minutes later Ryan Frost (Fullerton, Calif.) scored the first of his two goals to give Castleton a lead it would not relinquish. Harris set up Schoeneberger for his second of the period, once again on the power-play to give the Spartans a 3-1 edge heading into the first intermission.
Frost potted his second of the contest at the 14:15 mark of the second period, off a Schoeneberger helper. Castleton once again converted a power-play opportunity with just less than two minutes remaining in the second period as Brett Zeggil (Dundalk, Ontario) scored off assists from Justin Alonzo (San Jose, Calif.) and Schoeneberger to make it 5-1 after two periods.
Zeggil opened the third period scoring with a Schoeneberger-aided power-play goal at the 3:52 mark, and Schoeneberger finished off the hat trick six minutes later converting an Alonzo assist.
Cody Ayers (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Kyle Richards (Halifax, Nova Scotia) rounded out the Spartan scoring.
Castleton finished an impressive 7-for-9 on the power-play, while killing off six of the seven Potsdam extra-man chances.
Thomas Shelley (Waterford, Ontario) finished with 30 saves for his third win of the season. Potsdam starter Dylan Ellis (Okaville, Ontario) stopped 33 shots while giving up seven Spartan goals before yielding to Kevin Weiler (Binghamton, N.Y.) who made one save over the final 10 minutes of action.
Castleton is now 12-3 on the season and is off until January 20 when the Spartans return to ECAC East play at Southern Maine.
