POTSDAM, N.Y. – The Spartans scored four goals in the second period en route to capturing a 7-1 victory against Potsdam St. at Maxcy Ice Arena in the team's first contest of 2015.

Castleton outshot the opposition 47-26 and killed off both of the Bears' power play opportunities. Lisa Kilroy led the offense with two goals, while Anna Daniels contributed one goal with two assists as the Spartans improved to 7-4-1 on the season. The Bears, meanwhile, dropped to 4-7-1 overall with the loss.

After a scoreless opening 15 minutes of play, Castleton grabbed a one-goal lead when Daniels notched her fourth goal of the season on a power play opportunity at the 15:08 mark in the first.

The Bears didn't wait long to respond, as they found an equalizer just 45 seconds into the middle frame. Izzy Fayerman and Alison Greene were credited with assists after providing the service for Brenna Wilson's third goal of the season.

The Spartans reclaimed the lead just over a minute later when Tori Pizzuto found the back of the net. Defenders Sam Pion and Lisa Buratynski were involved in the buildup that led to Pizzuto's goal and gave the away side a 2-1 lead.

Castleton extended their advantage to two just over a minute later courtesy of Brianna Keats' fourth goal of the year, and Kilroy tacked on another score just past the midway mark in the second to make it 3-1 in favor of the Spartans.

With 2:09 remaining in the middle frame, the away side added a fourth goal of the period when Samantha McNeil knocked home her first career goal to give Castleton a four-goal advantage heading into the third period of play.  

In the final stanza, Ally Brandland produced her first score of the year, and Kilroy snagged her second goal of the game to help the Spartans claim a 7-1 victory.

Paula Stephens picked up her third win of the season after stopping 17 of the 18 shots that she faced in two periods of play between the pipes. Her replacement, Sky Brown, played the final 20 minutes of regulation and made eight saves in her first career appearance. For Potsdam St., Alexane Rodrigue and Abby Tardelli combined to produce 40 saves in the losing effort.

The Spartans return to action this weekend when they host the Rutland Herald Invitational on Friday and Saturday at Spartan Arena. In the first round of action, Castleton will square off with the Stevenson Mustangs at 4 pm on Friday. The consolation game will take place on Saturday at noon followed by the championship game at 3 pm.