RUTLAND, Vt. – A 46-save performance from goalie Ryan Mulder led Castleton to a 3-1 upset victory over the seventh-ranked Babson Beavers on Friday night at Spartan Arena. 

The Spartans were outshot in the contest 47-32, but killed off both of their penalties en route to the victory. Eric Mack, Charles Bando and Patrick Thornton scored one goal apiece, as the Spartans improved to 7-12 overall and 5-7 in the ECAC East. The Beavers, meanwhile, suffer back-to-back losses for the first time this season and move to 14-4-2 (9-3-1 ECAC East) on the season.

At the 3:06 mark in the first, Castleton had a golden scoring chance when Mack had a one-on-one opportunity with Babson's Jamie Murray. After receiving a pass from Will Laking, Mack skated across the face of the goal and delivered a shot on net, but Murray went post-to-post to knock the shot aside and keep the game scoreless. 

Just over four minutes later, it seemed that the Beavers had taken the first lead of the game when Bobby Hall's shot beat the Spartans' Ryan Mulder, but the referee signaled no goal and play resumed. 

Following a scoreless opening frame, it took just 21 seconds into the second period for Erick Mack to score his first goal of the season and hand Castleton a one-goal lead. Brian Greene received the puck on the far point and fired a shot on goal that Mack deflected past Murray, making it 1-0 in favor of the hosts.

Brian Greene nearly grabbed his first goal of the game at the 10:41 mark in the second, but Murray made a spectacular glove save to deny the senior's wrister and keep Babson's deficit at one.

With 3:24 remaining, Charles Bando scored his third goal of the season to give Castleton a 2-0 lead. Jimmy Burns and Corbin Marcotte were credited with assists, as Bando knocked a shot from in front of net to push the Spartan advantage to two.

Castleton wasted little time to extend their lead in the final frame, as Patrick Thornton notched his first goal of the year at the 1:11 mark to hand Castleton a 3-0 lead.

However, prior to the midway point in the third, Babson got one back courtesy of Rob Bevaney's second goal of the year. After a Castleton turnover at the blue line gave the Beavers a two-on-one break, Devaney received a pass near the far post and finished a shot top shelf to cut the visitors deficit back to two on a shorthanded opportunity. 

The Spartans were able to hold the Beavers scoreless in the final 12:29 of regulation, including 3:38 of six-on-five play, to capture the squad's first win over a ranked team this season, 3-1.

Mulder turned in an impressive performance in net for Castleton, stopped 46 shots with a .979 save percentage to record his fourth win of the season. His counterpart, Murray, fell to 14-4-2 overall with 29 saves.

The Spartans are back on the ice tomorrow afternoon at 4 pm when they host the tenth-ranked UMass Boston Beacons at Spartan Arena on the seventh annual Lothrop School Day.