RUTLAND, Vt. -- As the New England Hockey Conference playoffs began Saturday afternoon, the Castleton University women's hockey team dropped a 2-1 quarterfinal decision to Plymouth State at Spartan Arena.

The Spartans (13-10-3), the No. 2 seed in the playoffs, started off slow as the Panthers (8-12-2) outshot the team 15-6 in the first period. Despite the offensive pressure by the Panthers, goaltender Alexis Kalm pushed aside all shots she faced as the game remained scoreless through the first period of play.   

The Panthers picked up the pressure as the second period began and broke through to take the lead at the 12:11 mark of the period. As the Panthers collected the puck in their defensive zone, Chantelle Ross maneuvered through the Spartans' defense and took a point-blank shot on goal. Kalm easily pushed it aside but Caitlin Connor was swift, followed behind, and scored on the rebound.

Resiliency was key throughout the entire season and the Spartans clawed back into the game at the 15:09 mark of the third period. While on the power play, Erin Smith took a shot from the far boards that goaltender Olivia Petito couldn't handle cleanly. As the puck fell in front of the Panthers' goal, Darby Palisi raced in and scored her team-leading eighth goal of the season to tie the game at one.

The Panthers, however, scored to take the lead for good just over a minute later. At the 16:14 mark of the period, the Panthers forced a turnover at the red line and Addie Swanson took a shot that beat Kalm at the right-hand corner of the goal.

Despite the valiant effort, Kalm earned the loss as she finished the game with 40 saves and compiled 1,847 saves throughout her four-year career.

With the 2019-20 season coming to a close, women's ice hockey will graduate six seniors and will bring back a young roster as 16 members will return for the 2020-21 season.