HENNIKER, N.H. – Castleton (0-2-1, 0-1-1 NEHC) trailed 3-1 late in the third, but rallied with two goals in the final 2:37 of regulation to force extra time, as the Spartans and New England College Pilgrims played to a 3-3, overtime draw this afternoon in New England College Hockey action at Lee Clement Arena.

Will Laking led the attack with one goal and one assist, while Bart Moran and Patrick Thornton added goals of their own to help the Spartans snap their two-game losing streak and pick up their first positive result of the year. Scott Cornfield, James Angelicola and Chris Santello provided the Pilgrim scoring, as NEC moves to 1-1-1 on the season, including a 1-0-1 mark in conference play. 

After more than 16 minutes of scoreless action, the Pilgrims struck first to take a 1-0 lead. On a power play opportunity, Kyle Manlow and Conor Crouse provided the service, as Cornfield buried the puck home to put the hosts in front by one.

Following a scoreless middle frame, NEC was at it again in the third, as the squad doubled its lead when Angelicola tallied his first score of the season. The sophomore forward broke away from the defense and scored an unassisted strike less than three minutes into the final frame to give the Pilgrims a 2-0 advantage.

The Spartans finally got on the board midway through the third when Laking netted his second score of the season to cut the Castleton deficit back to one with 9:47 left to play. However, the hosts responded less than five minutes later after Santello scored a one-timer to push the NEC lead back to two.

The game seemed to be out of hand for Castleton, but in the final 2:37 of regulation, the squad rallied with two goals to tie the game at 3-3 and force overtime. Thornton snagged his first score of the season to cut the Spartan deficit back to one at the 17:23 mark before Moran scored on assists from Derek Gingera and Laking with just 54 seconds left to play to bring the game back to level terms at three.

Neither team, however, was able to find the game-winner in the extra frame, as the contest ended in a 3-3, overtime draw.

Despite being held scoreless until the third period of play, the Spartans turned in a solid offensive performance, outshooting the opposition 39-19 while scoring on one power play possession. The Pilgrims, meanwhile, converted one-third of their power play advantages in the afternoon contest.

Brody Wagner delivered a solid performance in his first start of the year, turning aside 16 of the 19 shots that he faced to move to 0-0-1 on the year. His counterpart, Bret Kilar, was just as good, producing 36 saves with a .929 save percentage in 65 minutes of play.

Castleton returns to action next weekend when it hosts its first two opponents of the year at Spartan Arena. The squad opens the weekend series by hosting No. 12 UMass-Boston on Friday at 7 pm before facing eighth-ranked Babson the following day at 4 pm.