Potsdam, N.Y. – Castleton scored first but was unable to find the back of the net again as the Spartans dropped a tough 4-1 decision to SUNY Potsdam on Tuesday evening against the Bears. 

Potsdam got two goals and an assist Brittany Lucky and 36 saves from junior goalie Dawna Salvarinas to improve to 6-8-1 on the season. Castleton drops to to 6-4-1 overall despite outshooting the home squad by a 37-29 margin. 

The Spartans capitalized on their first power play. At the 4:04 mark of the first period, freshman forward Anna Daniels buried a rebound for a 1-0 lead. Senior forward Jade Werger assisted on the goal. 

Potsdam answered just 1:35 later as Brittany Lucky beat Castleton freshman goalie Brittany Brayman with a shot from the point. Salvarinas and Brayman were the story the rest of the period. The Spartan goalie finished the opening stanza with 10 saves and Salvarinas with nine. 

Less than two minutes into the second period, freshman forward Sarah Nelson jammed home the rebound from a Brittany Lucky shot to give Potsdam a 2-1 advantage. A Castleton penalty following the goal allowed the Bears to maintain their momentum through the middle of the period, but they were unable to extend their lead. Brayman and Salvarinas continued their strong play and the score remained 2-1 after 40 minutes.

After an early barrage of shots from the Spartans in the third, Potsdam struck again. At the 3:08 mark, sophomore Izzy Fayerman a shot off Brayman from the right side of the net for an unassisted goal and a 3-1 lead. Castleton resumed peppering Salvarinas after the goal, but the junior continued to stonewall the Spartans. At 5:46, Brittany Lucky beat Brayman five-hole on another shot from the point to make it 4-1.

Shortly after the tally, Brayman was replaced by freshman goalie Jess Cameron. Castleton's offense continued to create scoring chances despite trailing by three, but Salvarinas frustrated them time after time and sealed the 4-1 victory. 

Brayman made 20 saves in the first 46:59 and Cameron stopped five shots in the final 13:01. The Spartans finished 1-for-5 on the power play, while the Bears were 0-for-2. 

The Spartans return to action on Saturday in the first game of the Rutland Herald Invitational at Spartan Arena. Castleton faces Franklin Pierce at 4 pm.