Rutland, Vt – Led by two freshman forwards, the Castleton Spartans skated to a 6-0 victory Friday night at Spartan Arena in ECAC East play over the Panthers of Plymouth State University. 

The Castleton offense was paced by freshmen Nicoline Jensen and Anna Daniels. Jensen contributed to every goal the Spartans scored finishing with two goals and four assists in the contest. Fellow freshman Anna Daniels finished with a career-high five points on two goals and three assists, while senior Jade Werger scored twice and dished off two assists.

The Spartans scored early in the first period, just under four minutes into the game, grabbing a quick 1-0 lead. Anna Daniels wrapped around the back of the net and took a wrist shot from the slot past Panthers goalie Jennifer Wisniewski.

The Spartans took advantage of a Plymouth St. penalty, scoring on the man advantage and adding to their lead at the 11:17 mark of the first frame.  The puck was cycled around the perimeter when Spartan senior defenseman Eileen Coyne passed the puck into the mixer, finding Nicoline Jensen who put it into the top corner of the net to make the score 2-0.

The Spartans added a third goal in the period as Jensen raced down the boards and passed it to Daniels who fired on goal, but the shot was turned away by Wisniewski. The goalie couldn't corral the puck and senior Jade Werger tipped it in to make it 3-0.

In the second period the Spartans continued to pressure with a furious forecheck, keeping the puck in the Plymouth St. zone for much of the period. Just 25 seconds into the frame, they notched another goal. Jensen intercepted an errant pass in the Panthers' zone, and found a wide-open Daniels who wristed it past Wisniewski for her second goal of the game, making it 4-0.

Werger picked up her second goal of the game midway in the third period to make it 5-0.  She picked up a loose puck from Jensen and wristed it past Wisniewski who was caught out of position. Jensen rounded out the scoring and picked up her second goal of the night at 15:57 of the third period to make it 6-0. 

Spartan net-minder Paula Stephens finished with 22 saves to earn her third win and second shutout of the season while Wisniewski had 23 saves in the game and dropped her first start of the season for a 0-1 record. 

The Spartans (4-1) will return to action tomorrow in another conference battle against the Huskies of Southern Maine at 2 p.m.