Rutland, Vt. - The Spartans earned a 3-1 victory over SUNY Potsdam on Tuesday night at Spartan Arena. Anna Daniels scored a pair of short-handed goals to lead the home team to their first victory over the Bears in program history.

Castleton outshot SUNY Potsdam 44-20 on the night, including a dominant second period where the Spartans racked up 17 shots on goal. Paula Stephens tallied 19 saves in net for Castleton to earn the win while Abby Tardelli kept the Bears within striking distance with 41 saves on the night but took the loss.

In the first period, Potsdam jumped out to a 1-0 lead. Just over nine minutes into the game, Jenn Crawford buried a look from the right slot to put the Bears ahead. Amanda Peterson and Izzy Fayerman both earned assists on the play. 

Three minutes later, Nicoline Jensen provided the answer for the Spartans. Lisa Kilroy passed out of a double-team on the boards to the right point where Emily Raber fired a snap shot on goal. Tardelli made the save but couldn't contain the rebound. Jensen was waiting on the doorstep and finished the play to tie the game at 1-1.

In the second period, Castleton owned the shot count, but struggled to score on their several opportunities. It wasn't until the Spartans were a man down that the squad could convert. Lisa Kilroy outskated a pair of Bears defenders on a cleared puck and controlled it behind the Potsdam net. The freshman found Anna Daniels streaking to the net and the sophomore buried the short-handed goal to put the Spartans ahead 2-1. 

Later in the period, it was deja vu for Daniels, who found herself on a breakaway while the Spartans were on the penalty kill. The forward netted her second short-handed goal of the contest to give the Spartans a two-goal lead.

The third period went by without a goal from either team, though the Spartans outshot Potsdam 12-10 in the frame. Castleton earned their first win of the new year and the program's first victory over SUNY Potsdam.

The Spartans improve to 7-5-0 on the year and will host the Rutland Herald Invitational on Friday Jan. 10 and Saturday, Jan. 11. The squad will take on University of New England in the first round of the tournament on Friday at 4:00pm. Salve Regina and Holy Cross will compete in the other first round game later Friday evening.