RUTLAND, Vt. – Castleton gave up two goals in the third period and were never able to overcome the deficit, as the St. Michael's Purple Knights snapped their ten game unbeaten streak with a 3-2 victory at Spartan Arena on Friday night.

The Spartans outshot the opposition 46-27 and scored on a power play, but it wasn't enough as they fell to 10-9-1 (4-7-1 ECAC East) on the season with the loss. The Purple Knights, meanwhile improved to 3-15-1 overall and 2-9-1 in conference play.

Castleton dominated in the operning period with 18 shots ion target, but with 33 seconds remaining in the first, Erin Dwyer finished a shot just inside the far post on a one-on-one opportunity to give St. Michael's a 1-0 advantage.

However that lead didn't last long, as the Spartans capitalized on a power play opportunity just 6:19 into the second period. With a five-on-four advantage, defenseman Sabrina Hosner found some room at the top of the point and wristed a shot home for her first goal of the season to even the game at one. 

St. Michael's was able to recapture the lead at the 5:58 mark in the final stanza when Dwyer netted her second goal of the game and seventh of the season. A Castleton turnover led to a two-on-one break, and Amanda Kempainen delivered a pass across the crease to Dwyer, who slotted it home to make it 2-1 in favor of the away side. 

Sierra Hannough scored her second career goal just nine seconds later to double the Purple Knights' lead. After the Spartans' Jess Cameron made a diving save, Hannough knocked the rebound into an empty net, handing the visitors a 3-1 lead.

Ashley Pelkey cut Castleton's deficit back to one with 6:43 remaining in the game, but the Purple Knights held off the Spartans' late rally to capture a 3-2 victory on Friday.

In net, Cameron suffered her sixth loss of the season after allowing three goals with 24 saves. Her counterpart, Tina Frasca, stopped 44 of the 46 shots that she faced to earn her second win of the year.

Castleton returns to the ice tomorrow evening when they travel to Plymouth St. for a conference contest that begins at 6:30 pm in Hanaway Rink.