RUTLAND, Vt. -- After suffering three straight losses, the Castleton University women's ice hockey team faced off against Plymouth State in a New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) contest Friday evening at Spartan Arena. The Spartans used a mix of youth and experience to down the Panthers 5-3. With the win tonight, the Spartans improve to 6-5-0 (6-2-0 NEHC) while the Panthers fall to 3-6-0 (2-5-0 NEHC).

For the first time this season, the Spartans opened up the scoring in the first period. Before tonight's contest, the Spartans were the last team in the NEHC to not register a first period goal. While on the power play, Ali Stevens connected on a Courtney Gauthier pass and scored her fourth goal of the season to give the Spartans the lead at the 14:06 mark of the first period.   

After holding a slim lead heading into the second period, the Spartans doubled the lead at the 11:12 mark of the period. After a Panthers' turnover near center ice, freshman forward Darby Palisi maneuvered her away through the defense and flipped a backhand shot over the outstretched hands of goaltender Becca Bridge to give the Spartans a 2-0 lead.

The Panthers cut the deficit in half as Julie Nagel connected off a Caitlin Connor pass and scored a power play goal at the 16:00 mark of the second period. Just over two minutes later the Spartans would answer back as freshman forward Sara Molina Barrachina scored her first collegiate goal. After an initial shot by Kaitlin Bardellini that was saved by Bridge, Molina Barrachina was in the right place at the right time to tip in the rebound to give the Spartans a 3-1 lead.

The Panthers would not go down easily however, as the team answered with two goals to tie the game up at three midway through the third period. The Panthers made it a 3-2 game with less than a minute left in the second period and then tied the game at the 11:06 mark of the third period.

The Spartans would show their resiliency as the team bounced back and took the lead at the 15:36 mark of the third period. Gauthier, who continues to lead the team with eight points through 11 games, scored the game-winning shorthanded goal. Gauthier forced a turnover in the Panthers' defensive zone, maneuvered past two defenders, and scored on the backhand to give the Spartans a 4-3 lead. 

Palisi, who leads all Spartan freshman in goals, assists and points, tallied her second goal of the game to solidify the win for the Spartans.

With the win tonight, the Spartans pushed their unbeaten streak against the Panthers to nine straight games, with the last loss coming back in 2016 as the Panthers defeated the Spartans 3-2 at Spartan Arena.

Women's ice hockey returns to action Saturday, December 7 as it travels to take on New England College in a NEHC matchup that is scheduled for 1 p.m.