RUTLAND, Vt. – Castleton battled back from an early one-goal deficit to record its fourth win in its last six contests with a 4-1 victory on Friday evening over the Skidmore Thoroughbreds at Spartan Arena on Senior Night. 

Seniors Ryan Frost and Brian Greene netted one goal apiece and Braedan Moffatt collected two helpers, as the Spartans improved to 9-14 (7-9 ECAC East) overall. Skidmore, meanwhile, falls to 4-17-3 (3-13-1) on the season in the losing effort.

The Thoroughbreds received their first power play of the evening just over a minute after the initial faceoff, and at the 1:49 mark in the first, they took the lead when Zach Arden netted his second goal of the year. With a one-man advantage, Travis Kauffman's shot from the crease deflected off the far post, but Arden was there to tap in the rebound and make it 1-0 in favor of the away side.

However, that lead didn't last long, as the Spartans' Trevor Hanna grabbed his fifth goal of the season less than a minute later. At the 2:42 mark, Jimmy Burns fired a shot from the far point that Hanna deflected into the net to even the game at one.

With the game on level terms, Castleton gained the momentum, and just past the midway point in the opening frame, the home side grabbed its first lead of the contest courtesy of Frost's team-leading eighth goal of the year. Kurt Johnson and Moffatt were credited with assists on the play, as Frost buried home the puck to give the hosts a 2-1 advantage. 

Following a scoreless middle frame, Castleton extended its advantage to three after Will Laking found the back of the net for the fourth consecutive game. On the break, Nick Kovalchik skated on the near side of the ice and delivered a pass to Laking, who slotted it home for his eighth goal of the season, giving the home side a 4-1 lead with 12:46 remaining in regulation.  Just over two minutes later, the Spartans struck again to double their lead. With a delayed penalty, Castleton pulled goalie Ryan Mulder to give the squad a one-man advantage, and at the 12:52 mark, Greene received a pass just wide of the net and finished a shot top shelf to hand the Spartans a 3-1 lead.

The Spartans killed off a six-on-four advantage late in the period, as they claimed their third home win of the season with a 4-1 victory.

Mulder turned in a 33-save performance, as he shutout Skidmore for the final 58:11 of regulation to capture his sixth win of the season. Jack McDonald, meanwhile, suffered the loss after allowing four goals, while his replacement, Ben Freiburg, made two saves in the closing minutes of play.

The Spartans and Thoroughbreds finish their home-and-home series on Saturday at 4 pm when they face off at Saratoga Springs Ice Rink.