PAWTUCKET, R.I. -- Courtney Gauthier tallied a game-tying goal with 52 seconds left in regulation as the Castleton University women's ice hockey team earned a 3-3 overtime tie against Johnson & Wales Friday evening at Lynch Arena in New England Hockey Conference action. The Spartans (10-8-2, 7-3-1 NEHC), heading into their final road trip of the regular season, collected their second tie of the season as six goals were scored in the third period alone in a back and forth contest with the Wildcats (7-8-4, 4-3-3 NEHC).

Neither team could find the back of the net through the first 40 minutes of action. The Wildcats however, locked down the Spartans' offense through the first period of play. The Spartans were held to just one shot on goal while the Wildcats placed eight shots on goal.

The second period was more of the same as both teams were unable to score the opening goal. The Spartans picked up the pace on the offensive side as the team was able to tally 12 shots on goal. Goaltender Alexis Kalm kept the Spartans in the game through the first two periods of the game as she collected 18 saves through the first 40 minutes of action. Kalm finished the contest with 27 saves.

The Spartans finally broke through at the 3:30 mark of the third period. While on the power play, Darby Palisi scored her third goal of the season. After a Nicolle Trivino initial shot and an Ali Stevens poke, Palisi tapped in the rebound from close range and gave the Spartans the 1-0 lead.

The Wildcats would quickly answer with a power play goal of their own at the 8:46 mark of the period. Drea Westgaard received maneuvered her way through the Spartans' depleted defense and scored to tie the game up at one.

The Spartans regained the lead shortly after as Casey Traill went coast-to-coast, swooped in across the Wildcats' net and scored her team-leading seventh goal of the season. The Wildcats refused to back down however, as they scored the next two goals to take a 3-2 advantage.

Cassie Wakefield tied the game at two at the 13:06 mark of the period and Koryn Russell scored on a one-time shot while on the power play just over a minute later to give the Wildcats their first lead of the game.

As the Spartans scrambled to find a game-tying goal, Gauthier slipped past the Wildcats' defense and beat goaltender Jasmine Mucci top shelf, blocker side to tie the game at three with under a minute to play in the third period.

The Spartans finish the month of January with a 2-3-2 record and are tied with Suffolk for second-place in the NEHC standings with 15 points.

Women's ice hockey returns to action tomorrow, February 1 as it plays its final road game of the regular season at UMass Boston. The puck is scheduled to drop at 1 p.m.