CASTLETON, Vt. – The Castleton women's hockey team is set to open their season Friday evening with a non-conference series against Rivier University.
 
The Spartans will look to improve under second-year head coach Tim McAuliffe after a shortened 2020-21 season in which they went 6-7-1, taking on a full 25-game slate with 18 scheduled in-conference matchups this year. The team returns most of its roster from last season, bringing back 17 players and adding four newcomers.
 
A familiar face will be donning the 'C' and running the offense for the Spartans this season, with Courtney Gauthier returning for a fifth year after missing last season due to injury. Gauthier has racked up 48 points in her career thus far coming on 14 goals and 34 assists, both of which lead this current Castleton group. Her assist total ranks sixth all-time in Spartans history, and she will look to pick up where she left off in her six-goal, seven-assist 2019-20 season.
 
In Gauthier's absence last season, it was Emily Harris and Darby Palisi running the offense for Castleton. In her first year on the team, Harris paced the Spartans in goals with six, adding on three assists to give herself a team-high nine points. Her season was highlighted by scoring the game-winning overtime goal in Castleton's stunning victory over Norwich.
 
Palisi tallied four goals and three assists in the shortened season, and ranks second on the team in career points with 21 after putting together an eight-goal, six-assist rookie season in 2019-20. Brooke Greenwood will also likely be a steady offensive contributor in the upcoming year after tallying consecutive two-goal campaigns.
 
The Spartans split games between two goaltenders last season, but it was Kirsten DiCicco separating herself from the pack and likely earning the starting spot this season. In her rookie campaign, DiCicco posted a 4-3 record and posted the fifth-best single-season save percentage in Castleton history at .934. The sophomore racked up a season-high 39 saves in the Spartans overtime win over Norwich and allowed just 1.73 goals per game — the second-best total in a single season in Castleton history.
 
The Spartans boast plenty of experience on this roster, but have added four new faces — two goalies and two defenders — to sure up an already impressive defense headlined by assistant captains Ryanne Mix, Katherine Campoli and Palisi.
 
With fans allowed back in the stands for the 2021-22 season and plenty to build off of from last year's abbreviated campaign, look for this group to compete on a nightly basis, starting Friday against Rivier.