RUTLAND, Vt. – The Castleton women's hockey team scored the game's first two goals and fended off a late push from nationally-ranked UMass-Boston to down the Beacons this afternoon, 2-1, at Spartan Arena. 

For the fourth consecutive matchup between the two programs, the game was decided by one goal. This time, Castleton was on the winning side, improving to 3-4-0 overall and 3-3-0 in New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) action. No. 9 UMass-Boston suffers just its second loss of the season, falling to 6-2-0, 4-2-0. 

Hannah Rose gave the Spartans an early lead that they never relinquished, with Jade Remillard's second-period goal proving to be the game winner as the Beacons grabbed one back in the third. 

Untimely penalties allowed UMass-Boston to get back into it with a late power-play goal from Edy Moritz, but that was all freshman Alexis Kalm would allow between the pipes for Castleton, earning her first career win with 24 saves. Rachel Myette made 16 saves in net for the Beacons, falling to 3-2-0 on the season after the loss.

Rose's second goal of the season came with just under seven minutes remaining in the first period.  A UMass-Boston turnover in the neutral zone created a fast break for Rose the other way, who pierced through the defense and went backhand to forehand, clipping the inside of the post past an outstretched Myette to give Castleton the 1-0 lead. Both goalies were strong for the rest of the opening frame, giving Castleton its first lead at the first intermission all season.

The Spartans came out firing in the second period with three straight shots over the final seconds of a power-play opportunity that carried over from the first stanza. The shots were unable to find their way to the net, as three-straight blocks from Beacons defenders kept the Spartans off the board on the extra-attacker chance. 

Just one minute later, Remillard put Castleton's first shot on net of the period, again contested by a variety of Beacons. This time, however, the puck snuck through the scrum in front and skipped through the five-hole of the screened Myette, giving the Spartans a 2-0 lead. Jocelyn Forrest notched her second assist of the season on the goal. Kalm was solid in the second, maintaining the 2-0 edge into the final frame.

UMASS-Boston came out strong in the third with multiple chances in the opening minutes, but four straight blocked shots, before two fancy saves from Kalm kept UMass-Boston off the board. The Beacons had four of the last five power-play chances, only capable of converting on the last one. Moritz received a feed from Kateri McClellan inside the Spartans blue line and inched towards the goal line, releasing a shot from the far circle that clipped over Kalm's shoulder to make it a 2-1 game midway through the final frame at the 11:30 mark.

UMass-Boston was unable to create any more chances down the stretch as the Spartans defense held when the game was on the line. The Beacons were only able to pull their goalie with just 27 seconds left in the contest, but could not put any shots on net with the extra attacker as Castleton earned the 2-1 victory.

UMass-Boston held the advantage in shots, 25-18, while finishing just one of six power-play chances. The Spartans were 0-for-2 with the woman-advantage but took care of fast break opportunities with even strength and edged the Beacons in faceoffs, 26-17.

Castleton returns to action on Tuesday to take on another nationally ranked opponent. This time, it will be the No. 1 team in the nation and defending National Champion Plattsburgh State with a 7 p.m. faceoff at Spartan Arena.