Worcester, Mass. - Castleton was shutout by a conference opponent for the first time this season as they stumbled on the road, falling 2-0 to Holy Cross in Worcester on Friday night. 

The Spartans were outshot 24-19 by the Crusaders, who earned their second win over Castleton this season. Crusader goalie Krista Manzanares stumped the Spartans, making 19 saves for the shutout win. Paula Stephens made 22 saves in net for the Spartans in the loss. 

The first period went by without a score, as the Crusaders outshot the Spartans 8-7. In the second, Castleton squandered three power play opportunities, going 0-for-3 with the man advantage in the frame. Just under 12 minutes into the second, Holy Cross got on the board taking a 1-0 lead with a goal from Amanda Gallagher, her first of the season.

Holy Cross kept up the momentum heading into the third period. The Crusaders possessed the puck for most of the final frame, outshooting the Spartans 9-5. At the 7:42 mark of the third period, Holy Cross added an insurance goal as Taylor McGee beat Stephens for her second goal of the year. Castleton pulled their goalie for the final 40 seconds of the game, but it was for naught as the Crusaders earned the 2-0 victory.

Castleton falls to 11-8-1 on the season, with a 6-4-1 mark in the ECAC East. The Spartans will look to bounce back from the loss on Saturday, Feb. 1 when they travel to Newport R.I. to take on Salve Regina in another crucial conference clash. Game time is scheduled for 7:00pm.