RUTLAND, Vt. – The 14th-ranked Castleton men's hockey team scored twice in the third period to draw even with St. Anselm as the teams finished with a 3-3 overtime draw on Friday night at Spartan Arena. 

The Spartans were forced to play from behind much of the night and were outshot in the contest by a 32-26 margin. Castleton moves 1-1-1 on the year while the Hawks drop to 2-0-1 with the tie a 

In the first period, it was St. Anselm that had the early advantage, earning a pair of power plays, including a 5-on-3 advantage for 51 seconds in the game's first five minutes. The Spartans killed off both penalties, but the Hawks finished with first period with an 11-7 advantage in shots.

St. Anselm broke through first in the second, scoring 5:51 into the period. On the power play, Bryan Sullivan corralled a rebound right in front and fired it in the back of the net before Thomas Shelley recovered. 

Castleton responded at the 7:17 mark. Defensemen Kevin Van Dyk put a shot on net and it bounced off Robert Kang's pads over to the near side of the net. Colin Murray charged the near post and flipped the puck home for the equalizer before Kang could react. 

Less than 30 seconds later the Hawks took back the lead. Tucker Mullin came in on a 2-on-1 on the near side of the ice and wristed a shot right under the pads of Shelly into the far corner of the net.

The Spartans used a shorthanded goal just 24 seconds into the final period to even the score 2-2. Nick Lazorko and Josh Harris came in on a 2-on-1 and Lazorko fired the puck around a defender and on net. The puck bounced off Kang's pads and Harris finished it for the score. 

St. Anselm answered at the 2:26 mark when Mike Richard took a pass from the far side of the ice and one-timed it into the back of the net. 

Castleton came back once again, this time on a goal byjunior Kyle Richards with 10:38 remaining. Richards dished off a pass to Justin Alonzo and his shot went off Kang's pads and right onto the stick of Richards, who fired it home. 

Neither team was able to score again in regulation, as Shelley and Kang were both strong in net. The two goalies held strong in the extra session as well as the two teams went scoreless. Shelley finished with 29 saves on the night while Kang made 23 stops in net. 

The Spartans return to action on Saturday at 4 pm when they host New England College.