RYE, N.Y. - The Spartans had one of their strongest defensive efforts of the season and got a superb effort from freshman Paula Stephens (Seattle, Wash.) to play Manhattanville to a 0-0 overtime tie at Playland Ice Casino on Friday evening.

Stephens played her best game at Castleton, facing a team which had scored at least four goals in four of its last seven contests. The first-year stopped a career-high 48 shots, including six in overtime to preserve the scoreless tie and move the Spartans to 6-12-1 overall and 5-7-1 in the ECAC East. Manhattanville, meanwhile, goes to 10-7-3 on the season and 8-3-3 in conference play.

The Valiants out-shot Castleton 12-2 in the opening period and then 13-9 in the second but couldn't get past Stephens and rest of the defense.

Over the final 25 minutes of regulation and overtime, Manhattanville fired 23 shots on Stephens, while the Spartans managed just five on Valiants' goalie Mary Evans (Detroit, Mich.). Evans finished the evening with 16 saves overall to earn the tie.

Castleton returns to action on Saturday when the team travels to play Nichols at 4:40 p.m.