RUTLAND, Vt. – Nikita Pintusov scored four goals and Alex Laplante had two goals and an assist to lead New England College over Castleton, 9-3, in New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) action on Saturday.

Carlos Fornaris and Jhuwon Davis also had three assists apiece as five Pilgrims finished with multi-point performances and 11 registered at least one point.

New England College held a 2-0 lead through the first 20 minutes, but two Spartan goals within 1:47 early in the middle frame made it a 2-2 tie. NEC then rolled off seven unanswered goals for the lopsided decision.

Sophomore Kyle Kazeroid put Castleton (1-2-0, 1-1-0 NEHC) on the board at 1:07 on the power play on a rebound on a shot from Nick Gravina. Calvin Moïse also picked up an assist with a cross-ice pass to set up the initial chance. Then, Andrew Barber stripped the puck from a wing on the Castleton blue line and caught the visitors in a change to lead to an open stretch pass to Alex Maunula, who put a wrist shot over the goalie's glove on the breakaway.

New England College re-gained the lead just 54 seconds later and scored three more to make it a 6-2 lead at the second intermission. After making it 7-2 at the 1:20 mark of the third period, the lead ballooned to seven after goals at 6:21 and 15:17. 

Brian Leonard was rewarded with a goal for Castleton with 2:36 remaining on the clock to complete the scoring. Dom Kuziak and Jacob Erwin had the assists on the forecheck. 

NEC finished 2-for-5 on the power play, while Castleton scored once in five chances with the man advantage.

Brandon Collett started and took the loss after surrendering six goals and making 18 saves in 34:23 of action. Kyle Alaverdy made 11 saves in 25:37 in relief while allowing three goals. For New England College (2-1-0, 1-1-0 NEHC), Anthony Pupplo recorded 29 saves to earn the win. 

Castleton will hit the road on Friday, November 15 to play Skidmore before ending the two-day road trip on Saturday at nationally sixth-ranked Hobart. The Spartans return home November 22-23 to host #13 UMass Boston and Babson.