CANTON, N.Y. - The Castleton University men's hockey team fell 4-2 at SUNY Canton Saturday evening despite opening the scoring and holding a 1-0 lead into the second period. Alex Maunula and Jahwara Rennalls contributed the tallies for the Spartans. 

Maunula's goal was the first for either side and came midway through the opening period. Castleton (1-3-0) took advantage of an odd-man rush as Maunula and Andrew Barber passed back-and-forth before the senior forward snuck an attempt past Pierce Diamond. it marked the first of the season for Maunula. 

The 1-0 advantage would hold until the early minutes of the second period as the Kangaroos (1-1-1) evened things at 1-1. Excellent netminding from Kyle Alaverdy would keep the hosts off the board for the remainder of the period. He recorded 20 saves through the frame, heading into the second intermission with 36 saves already to his credit. 

The Kangaroos would explode for three goals in the final four minutes of the game to sink the Spartans.

Rennalls netted the first of his career with less than a minute remaining to bring the score to 4-2. The senior redirected a shot from Glenn Wiswell to earn the career-first. 

Alaverdy would finish the game with 41 saves, a new career-best. He bested his previous high mark of 40 set January 18, 2020 at Southern Maine. 

With special teams providing a bright spot in the loss, the Spartan penalty kill was a perfect seven-for-seven while the power play unit has converted in two consecutive games. 

Castleton returns home Friday, November 12 to take on New England College in the NEHC opener. Puck drop at Spartan Arena is set for 7 p.m.