CASTLETON, Vt. – The Castleton University women's ice hockey team scored three unanswered goals in the final frame to even the score at 3-3, but Oswego State responded down the stretch with a late goal of its own, ending the Spartans hopes of a season-opening comeback as they ultimately fell to the Lakers, 4-3, on Saturday afternoon. 

Following a scoreless opening period, seven pucks found the back of the net over the final two stanzas, starting with three from the visiting Lakers. Alli Ulrich delivered a shot from the point that was initially sent aside by Riley Wills, only to find the waiting stick of Alexa Aramburu, who pocketed her first goal of the season – a power play goal -- at the 10:13 mark of the second period.

Olivia Ellis doubled the Lakers lead less than one minute later, again on the power play. This time, Ellis stick handled into the zone fending off a Spartan defender and issued a wrist shot that skipped over Wills short side shoulder into the back of the net at 11:11 of the second period. The Lakers tallied an even strength goal less than two minutes later to take a 3-0 advantage into the locker room.

Castleton came out a different team in the third period, delivering eight consecutive shots on goal after being outshot 28-9 over the opening two periods. The Spartans needed a spark and they got one from Ashley Pelkey, who quickly put the Spartans on the board just 4:26 into the final frame. The senior captain deposited Castleton's first goal of the season off a rebound at the  Sabrina Hosner at the point as the Spartans began to pick up pressure.

Just over a minute later following another Lakers penalty, Jocelyn Forrest cut the deficit to just one after pocketing a second consecutive power play goal for Castleton. Ally Brandland and Hannah Wright had the Lakers on their toes with a series of passes that finally reached Forrest to make the score 3-2 with plenty of time left.

The Spartans did not need much more time, as the game was tied less than 30 seconds later when Lisa Kilroy found an open puck in front of the net and snuck it past Oswego State's Mariah Madrigal for Castleton's third unanswered goal at the 6:01 mark of the final regulation period and just like that, the game was knotted at 3-3.

A back-and-forth middle stage of the third period featured a wealth of opportunities for both squads. Following a Spartans penalty, however, momentum began shifting back towards Oswego State as the Lakers were on the move down the stretch, issuing the game's final ten shots on goal, including the game-winner from Kendall Applebaum with 7:29 left to play. The Lakers continued pressure late in the game, preventing Castleton from pulling its goalie in favor of an extra attacker until under a minute left in regulation. 

Rylie Wills made a career-high 36 saves on 40 shots in the contest, despite falling to 0-1-0 on the season in her first career season-opening start. On the other side, Mariah Madrigal improved to 1-0 on the season after notching 17 saves in the win for the Lakers.

Kilroy led the offense with a goal and an assist for Castleton, while Forrest and Pelkey combined for two goals on nine shots in the hard-fought loss.

The Spartans return to action on Friday, Nov. 4 for a visit with Manhattanville in the opening conference matchup of the season. The game is slated for a 7 p.m. faceoff.