RUTLAND Vt. – Allison Howard (Brandon, Manitoba) scored her first two collegiate goals to lead Castleton State College to a 4-1 win over Plymouth State University in ECAC Women's East action Saturday afternoon at Spartan Arena.

With the win Castleton's record-setting season continues at 9-12-1 overall and 8-7-1 in conference play. The Panthers fall to 1-17-3, 1-13-2.

After a scoreless first period, Jessica Spidle (Smithtown, N.Y.) put Castleton on the board at the 4:08 mark of the second period, converting a power-play goal off a Christine Newton (Ogden, Utah) assist.

Howard made it 2-0 six minutes later, converting her first career goal off a Hanna Martini (Fayston, Vt.) helper. Martini stole the puck in the neutral zone, and passed to Howard who eluded a Panther defender for the goal.

The Spartans pushed the lead to 3-0 at the 16:18 mark as Stephanie Bardell (Erwinna, Pa.) stuffed home a rebound off a Newton slap-shot on a Spartan power-play. 
Howard made it 4-0 made it 4-0 at the 11:41 mark of the third period before Plymouth State's Tasha Wyatt (Minturn, Colo.) spoiled the shutout bid with her first of the season with just 19 seconds remaining.

Paula Stephens (Seattle, Wash.) stopped 16 shots to stretch her unbeaten streak to four games (3-0-1). Nicole Crandle (Bristol, Conn.) took the loss in between the pipes for the Panthers, making 26 saves.

Castleton is currently sitting in the third seed for the upcoming ECAC East Tournament, with just two games remaining on the conference slate scheduled for next weekend. First up is a road contest Friday at St. Anselm at 7 pm, followed by a 2 pm match-up at UMass-Boston.

Plymouth State will finish out the season at Nichols and Manhattanville.