Rutland, Vt. – The Spartans scored three unanswered goals in a wild second period to tie the game, but couldn't hold on as the Mass.-Boston Beacons snagged a 5-3 playoff victory at Spartan Arena on Saturday afternoon. 

Freshman goalie Casey Schaejbe made 49 saves for the Beacons, including a 15-save third period that sealed the victory for UMB. The Spartans' Paula Stephens made 20 saves and Jess Cameron stopped 8 shots as they split time in net.

Castleton opened the game by peppering UMB goalie Casey Schaejbe with shots, outshooting the Beacons 17-13 in the period. Schaejbe shut down every chance the Spartans had though, making 17 saves in the period.

The Beacons opened the scoring with 1:24 remaining in the first, when Emily LaRosa snuck out of the Beacons' zone on a breakaway. She skated straight to net and wristed a shot just over the glove of Spartans goaltender Paula Stephens to put UMB up 1-0.

The second period may have been the most exciting twenty minutes of the entire season. The frame featured 12 goalie changes from the Spartans and a combined five goals. Castleton head coach Bill Bowes went to a two-goalie shuffle after Stephens allowed two goals in the second period. He switched between Jess Cameron and Stephens, allowing each goalie to catch a breather between shifts.

The Beacons scored a quick goal out of the gates, when Courtney White wristed an unassisted goal from the right slot just 53 seconds into the period. UMB scored again under two minutes later when Katie Loiselle deked Stephens and put away a goal. The tally extended the Beacons lead to 3-0.

After the score, Bowes pulled Stephens in favor for Cameron, and seemed to ignite his team. The Spartans would score three unanswered goals to tie the game in the period. Jessica Spidle got the Spartans on the board with a goal resulting from a scrum in front 5:28 into the period.

With 4:18 left in the period, BriAnna Narodowy notched a power play. Dani Roberts shot the puck from the point, forcing Schaejbe to make a kick save. The rebound went right to Narodowy who wristed it home to make the score 3-2.

Castleton tied the game on a shorthanded goal when two member of the ECAC East All-Rookie Team hooked up on a breakaway. Nicoline Jensen beat one defender and found Anna Daniels who deked right and went five hole on Scheajbe to tie the game at 3-3 with 38 seconds remaining in the second period. The game went into the second intermission all knotted up.

In the third, Castleton continued to pile on the shots, forcing Schaejbe to stay on her toes. The freshman was up to the task, turning away all 15 of the Spartans' third period attempts. With 7:11 left in the game, UMB scored a shorthanded goal of their own. After a defensive zone turnover by the Spartans, Emily Howard found Alyssa Sullivan for the score to put the Beacons up 4-3.

With 2:53 remaining, LaRosa scored her second goal of the game to give the Beacons a two-goal cushion and seal the game. Mass.-Boston advances to the ECAC East semifinals for the seventh time in the past eight season. 

The Spartans graduate six seniors, Jade Werger, Dani Roberts, Eileen Coyne, Christine Newton, Hanna Martini, and Kat Dembowski.

Werger will finish her Spartan career as the team's third all-time leading scorer, notching 25 goals and 28 assists over her career. 

Roberts and Coyne finish tied for first and third respectively as Castleton's all-time highest-scoring defensemen. Roberts notched six goals and 28 assists in her career to tie Kayla Twigge as the highest scoring defenseman. Coyne finished her career with 7 goals and 22 assists. 

Newton graduates as Castleton's all-time leader in games played, appearing in 104 total games. She scored two goals and dished off 15 assists in her time as a Spartan.

Hanna Martini scored 12 goals and nine assists in her Spartan career, including one of the most important goals in Castleton history, an overtime game-winner in the 2011-2012 playoff victory over Salve Regina, giving the Spartans their first-ever playoff win.

Dembowski appeared in 48 career games as a goaltender, earning four shutouts in a career shortened by injuries. She served as a student assistant in her senior season.

Castleton finishes their year with a 9-12-5 record and a program-record 60 goals scored on the season.