Newport, R.I. - The Spartans earned the program's first trip to the ECAC East Championship game with a 5-1 victory over Salve Regina on Saturday night. The win marks the team's most lopsided playoff victory in program history.

Nicoline Jensen scored a pair of goals for the Spartans, and Anna Daniels and Rachel Bombardier each finished with a goal and an assist. Paula Stephens made a season-high 50 saves to keep the Seahawks at bay, propelling the Spartans to victory. 

Castleton got on the board late in the first period, when Jensen buried her 14th goal of the season. Sam McNeil and Hannah Wright each earned assists on the goal that put the Spartans up 1-0 with 1:35 remaining in the opening frame.

In the second period, the Spartans added to their lead with a goal from Bombardier just 1:21 into the frame. The Seahawks answered with a power play goal a few minutes later. Sarah Markey scored off a pair of assists from Danielle Phalon and Michaela Chiuccariello to make it 2-1. With 5:49 left in the period, Jensen added an insurance goal to the Spartan lead, beating Colleen Marcik to put the Spartans up 3-1 before the second intermission.

In the third, Castleton was outshot 20-10 but Stephens stood on her head to keep the Spartans in the lead. Just under four minutes into the frame, Taylor Steadman scored her first playoff goal for the Spartans, beating Marcik to put the visitors ahead 4-1.

Down three goals, the Seahawks did all the could to get back into the game, including pulling their goalie for an extra attacker. The move backfired though, as Anna Daniels netted an empty-net goal in the final two minutes of play, extending the Spartan lead to 5-1.

With the win, the Spartans add to their best win total in program history, earning the 16th of the season. Castleton moves to 16-9-2 and will travel to top-seeded Norwich to take on the Cadets in the ECAC East final on Saturday, March 8.