Manchester, N.H. - Castleton had won four out of five games in the month of January, going into their game with St. Anselm on a hot streak. The Spartans could not continue their momentum, falling to the Hawks 2-1 on Saturday afternoon in Manchester.

Allie Howard finished with the team's only goal on the day. The squad's lone senior has now scored in two consecutive games, tripling her season goal total in the past two contests. Paula Stephens finished with 33 saves for the Spartans, but took the loss. 

In the first period, the Spartans were put on their heels by constant pressure from the home team. St. Anselm outshot Castleton 11-2 in the period, but Stephens was up to task, turning away all the Hawks' attempts in the frame.

The second period was similar in style, with the Spartans' defense under constant attack from the Hawks' forwards. St. Anselm finally cracked Stephens five minutes into the second period with a short-handed goal from Allison Butler. The tally put the Hawks up 1-0 and they carried that slim lead into the third despite outshooting the Spartans 26-8 through two periods.

Just 1:47 into the final frame, Castleton evened the score. Howard notched her third goal of the year, and her second in as many games. Molly Howard and Samantha Pion each earned an assist on the play that tied the game at 1-1.

The Spartans continued to press for the game-winning goal, but a tripping penalty midway through the frame proved costly. With 8:28 remaining in the game, Andi Foss buried a go-ahead goal on a St. Anselm power play to put the Hawks ahead 2-1.  

Castleton worked hard to tie the game, pulling Stephens for an extra attacker in the final minute, but were unable to scratch up a tying goal before the final horn sounded. 

The Spartans mustered just 16 shots on the evening, tying their fewest shots on goal in a single-game this season. Castleton was also held to 16 shots against Norwich on Nov. 22 and on Dec. 7. against Middlebury. St. Anselm goaltender Lindsey Brown stopped 15 shots on the day to earn the win for the Hawks.

The Spartans fall to 10-7-0 on the season, with a 5-3-0 mark within the ECAC East. The squad will return to action on January 24 when they host Manhattanville in another ECAC East battle.