SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Castleton University men's hockey team earned one New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) point with a 2-2 tie on the road at Skidmore on Friday. 

Alex Maunula and Anton Tarvainen scored the goals for the Spartans, who move to 1-2-1 and 1-1-1 in NEHC play. Meanwhile, the Thoroughbreds stay undefeated at 3-0-1 and 2-0-1.

After a back-and-forth opening period, Skidmore came out with a 1-0 lead with a goal with 11 seconds left in the period. Matt Muzyka slammed in the loose puck, with assists to Matthew Rutiglia and Matt Wolf.

The hosts took a 2-0 lead just 1:55 into the second period on an Austin Rock tally. Wolf picked up his second helper and the previous goal-scorer Muzyka claimed the secondary assist. 

Maunula converted on a short breakaway to put the Spartans on the board at the 6:37 mark of the middle frame. Nick Grivina played a saucer pass over the stick of a Thoroughbred defender and onto the stick of Maunula, who beat the goalie with a backhand shot. Calvin Moïse also got on the scoresheet with an assist on the play.

Castleton had 1:40 of carry-over power-play time into the third period, and scored the equalizer with 20 seconds remaining on the man-advantage. Tarvainen put the finishing touches on a passing play with Glenn Wiswell and Kyle Kazeroid, which resulted in an open net tap-in.

The teams traded scoring chances throughout the remainder of regulation to no avail. Spartan goalie Kyle Alaverdy was relied on in a number of situations, highlighted by a stop on a breakaway opportunity with just under five minutes left in the third. 

Alaverdy finished with 38 saves to tie a career-high. His counterpart, Brandon Kasel, turned aside 32 shots for Skidmore. 

Castleton's best chance for the game-winner in the third came with 2:05 on the clock when Gravina rang a wrist shot off the pipe. 

Relentless Skidmore pressure throughout the closing minutes led to Castleton's one and only penalty infraction with 41 seconds on the clock. The Spartan penalty kill snuffed out the clinching opportunity over the end of regulation and into overtime thanks to three Alaverdy saves and a key shot-block by Andrew Barber as the seconds wound down in regulation.

The Spartans were out-shot 4-1 in the overtime period and held on to earn the point.

Castleton returns to action on Saturday as it travels to nationally fifth-ranked Hobart for a 4 p.m. contest.