Box Score RUTLAND, Vt. -- The Castleton University women's ice hockey team, celebrating the 12th annual Pink the Rink game, used two goals from Darby Palisi as the Spartans defeated Southern Maine 3-2 in an overtime thriller Saturday afternoon at Spartan Arena.
The Spartans (11-8-3, 8-3-2 NEHC) took the lead over the Huskies (10-11-2, 8-6-0 NEHC) at the 5:59 mark of the first period. The Spartans, who have only scored five goals in the first period all season, got one tonight as Palisi tallied her first goal of the game after collecting the puck near center ice. She raced down the ice, took on three defenders and pushed the puck past goaltender Whitney Padgett.
The Huskies tied the game at one at the 4:54 mark of the second period. While on the power play, Grace Simmons took an initial shot from the blue line and Katie Nolan redirected the shot past goaltender Alexis Kalm to score her sixth goal of the season.
With the game tied entering the third period, the Spartans took the lead early in the third period. At the 3:44 mark of the period, Ryanne Mix took a one-time shot the left point as the Spartans took a 2-1 lead. The Huskies, however, weren't down for long. At the 15:57 mark of the third period, the Huskies raced down the ice and Peyton Duksa threw a pass across the Spartan goal. Maddy Long finished off the play and slid the puck past Kalm to tie the game at two.
As neither team could tally the game-winning in regulation, the game went into overtime. At the 2:02 mark of the period, Courtney Gauthier found Palisi and after a scrum in front of the Huskies' goal, Palisi tapped in the game-winner to secure the 3-2 win for the Spartans.
With the win, the Spartans took sole possession of second-place in the New England Hockey Conference standings. With 18 points, the Spartans are two points clear of UMass Boston and Southern Maine.
Women's ice hockey returns to Spartan Arena tomorrow, Sunday, February 9 as it takes on Suffolk in NEHC action. The puck is scheduled to drop at 5 p.m.
