RUTLAND, Vt. – With the game tied late in the third period, Derek Gingera skated through the crease and fired a wrister through traffic that beat the goalie with 2:10 left to play and handed the Spartans a 3-2, comeback victory this evening over the New England College Pilgrims in New England Hockey Conference action at Spartan Arena.

This marks the first time this season that Castleton has won back-to-back games, and with the victory, the squad improves to 3-12-1 on the season and 2-6-1 in the conference. The Pilgrims, meanwhile, fall to 9-6-2 overall (4-4-2 NEHC) in the losing effort. 

Gingera led the Spartan attack with a pair of goals, as the Spartans outshot the opposition 32-22. Fabio Kläy added his fourth career goal, while Ryan Mulder picked up his 2nd win of the year with 20 saves. Shawn Watson and Scott Cornfield provided the NEC goals, and Brett Kilar (9-6-2) contributed 29 saves in net in the losing effort. 

The opening minutes of the contest were a slugfest, as both teams tried to set the momentum and pace of the game. It was the Spartans who struck first when Gingera finished a breakaway attempt for his fifth score of the year with 6:12 remaining in the first. On a penalty kill, Castleton cleared the puck from their end and it fell at the feet of Gingera, who slipped the puck through the five-hole on a one-on-one opportunity for a short-handed score to put the hosts in front, 1-0.

Just over three minutes later, the game was back to level terms after Connor Fries' pass into the crease deflected off a Spartan and into the back of the net. Watson was credited with his third score of the season on the play. NEC continued to push for its second score, and with 1:04 left in the first, the visitors captured the lead when Cornfield's wrister went bar-down to hand the visitors a 2-1 lead heading into the break.

The Spartans found their equalizer midway through the second when Kläy notched his third goal in as many games. At the 10:40 mark, Ryan O'Malley's pass found Kläy at the near point, and the freshman forward finished a slap shot through traffic to even the score at 2-2. 

After more than 17 minutes of scoreless play in the third, it seemed that the game would be heading to overtime, but with 2:10 left to play, Gingera netted the game-winner with his second strike of the game and sixth of the season. On a power play opportunity, the senior received the pass on the near point, skated through the crease and ripped a shot home for the winner to hand the club a 3-2 victory and secure the season series over the Pilgrims. 

The Spartans look to complete the weekend sweep tomorrow afternoon when they host the St. Anselm Hawks at 4 pm on Community Cupboard Day at Spartan Arena.