Rutland, Vt. – In a game littered with penalties, the Castleton men's hockey team fell 4-3 to ECAC East foe New England College on Saturday evening at Spartan Arena. A late goal from forward Patrick Corcoran in the third period lifted the Pilgrims to victory.

New England College finished with the 27-25 shot advantage; however, the Spartans held them to just 1-for-12 on the power play while scoring on two of their six opportunities. Overall the two teams combined for 25 penalties and 69 penalty minutes spent in the box, with 15 penalties called on host Castleton.

New England College was able to score just 1:07 into the game when Andre Stalberg beat Spartans goalie Jake Stafford for his second goal of the season. The score was the only one of the first period, leaving the score 1-0 at the first intermission.

In the second period, both teams came out aggressive, but it was the Spartans' Ross Herzog whose effort earned a score. On the penalty kill, Herzog broke away from the Pilgrims defense and fired on net. His first shot was stopped by NEC goaltender Shawn Sirman, but he couldn't contain the rebound and Herzog converted on the second effort. His tally tied the game at 1-1.

Later in the period, the Spartans were able to take their first lead. On a power play, Kevin Van Dyk cycled the puck to Nick Lazorko who found Colin Murray streaking towards the net for the goal. His score lifted Castleton to a 2-1 lead, which held through the end of the second period.

In the third, the Pilgrims earned a five-on-three power play, during which Cheyne Matheson tallied his first goal of the year, beating Stafford stick side on a rebound. Later in the period with the score tied at 2-2, Castleton's Ben Schoeneberger found Nick Lazorko for a power play goal. With 14:59 left in regulation the Spartans held a 3-2 lead.

Late in the third period, the Pilgrims found themselves short-handed when Jonathan Boxill intercepted a misguided Castleton pass, and finished a breakaway to tie the game at 3-3. Just under four minutes later, the Pilgrims struck again, taking a 4-3 lead on a Patrick Corcoran one-timer that squeezed past Stafford.

Despite many late chances, the Spartans failed to convert the game-tying goal, and fell 4-3 to the Pilgrims for their second conference loss of the year. Sirman finished with 22 saves for the Pilgrims while Stafford stopped 16 shots for Castleton.

With the loss, the Spartans fall 1-2-1 and will travel to UMass-Boston on Nov. 16.