Henniker, N.H. - The Spartans were behind late, but found a way to score and earned the tie against New England College in ECAC East action on Tuesday night.

With the clock winding in the third period and Castleton trailing 2-1, Molly Howard found the net for the second time in three games to even the score and force an extra period. Neither side was able to convert in the final minutes, leaving the final score at 2-2.

The Spartans were able to crack the seal early, and took a crucial 1-0 lead on the host Pilgrims. Nicoline Jensen scored her sixth goal of the year on a Spartan power play, slipping the puck past Pilgrim goaltender Lauren Hopps with just over ten minutes remaining in the first period to give the Spartans their early cushion.

Later in the frame, NEC's Morgan Braniff was able to convert for her fourth goal of the year, squeezing one past Spartan goaltender Paula Stephens. With 6:54 left to play in the first period, the score was knotted 1-1.

In the second stanza, the Pilgrims converted on a power play opportunity to take control. Madyson Moore was able to redirect an errant shot into the Castleton net to give NEC the 2-1 lead. Stephens was able to keep the Spartans just one goal down, saving 17 shots in the second period alone.

In the third frame, Molly Howard received a pass in the slot from Samantha Pion. She corralled the puck and ripped a wrister over the left shoulder of Hopps and into the net, pushing the Spartans back to even at 2-2.

The rest of the game played out to a draw as both teams battled it out through the rest of the third period and overtime. Stephens finished with 36 saves for the Spartans while Hopps recorded 31 stops for NEC. 

With the draw, Castleton moves to 7-5-3 on the season, with a 4-2-3 ECAC East record. The squad will travel to Holy Cross on Friday in a rematch of the Rutland Herald Invitational championship game.