Rutland, Vt. - The Spartans couldn't generate enough offensive push and were blanked by the Holy Cross Crusaders 3-0 on Friday night at Spartan Arena.

Alex Stevenson made 25 saves, earning her second shutout of the season for the Crusaders as they earned their second win over the Spartans in three meetings this season. Spartan goaltender Paula Stephens made 29 saves in the loss.

Castleton's best chance to score came early in the first period when Nicoline Jensen deflected an errant pass and gathered the puck for a breakaway. With just the goalie to beat, Jensen deked left and brought the puck back to her right, wristing it to the goalie's high glove side. Stevenson countered valiantly, knocking the puck away with her glove to keep the Spartans off the board.

Late in the period, Francesca Panarelli opened the scoring, pounding in a rebound that deflected off Spartans goaltender Paula Stephens. Alex Campione and Rebecca O'Quinn earned assists on the goal, putting Holy Cross up 1-0 just before the first intermission.

In the second period, the Crusaders kept pouring it on. While on the power play, Crusaders forward Caroline English ripped a wrister from the high slot. O'Quinn darted in front of the net to graze the puck, changing its path and beating Stephens with the deflection. The score put the Crusaders up 2-0 with 15:37 remaining in the second.

Later in the period, Holy Cross struck again. Kylee Sullivan cleaned up her own rebound, lifting it into the goal over the lunging Stephens. The score made it  3-0, and buried the Spartans for good.

With the loss, Castleton falls to 9-10-5 on the year, 6-6-5 in the ECAC East. They will take on Salve Regina in the season finale Saturday, Feb. 16 at 2 p.m. at Spartan Arena. Before the game the team will honor their graduating seniors.