RUTLAND, Vt. – Rallying behind a three-score third period, the Castleton women's hockey team took care of business Saturday afternoon, besting New England College 5-2 on home ice.
 
The forward line of Brooke Greenwood, Nancy Benedict and Courtney Gauthier did most of the damage in this one, combining in some fashion for all five goals, highlighted by Greenwood's first career hat-trick as well as a career-high four assists from Gauthier.
 
The Pilgrims (3-9-0, 0-8-0 NEHC) struck first seven minutes in on a shot from the slot that snuck by netminder Izabella Segui, but the Spartans responded just over a minute later with Greenwood's first goal of the day to level the score.
 
Benedict controlled the puck in the corner off the faceoff before passing it along the boards to Gauthier. The graduate student took the puck behind the goal and found a cutting Greenwood, who one-timed the puck into the top corner to make it a 1-1 game.
 
After going scoreless the remainder of the first period, Greenwood doubled her goal tally four minutes into the second to give Castleton (6-6-2, 3-3-1 NEHC) their first lead of the day.
 
Alexandra Snow sent a shot in from just inside the zone that ended up at the stick of Gauthier behind the net. The grad student found Greenwood once again at the crease, but NEC goalie Hannah Podvey rejected shots from both Greenwood and Benedict. Finally on their third try, Greenwood snuck the puck past Podvey for the score, giving the junior her second of the day and the Spartans a 2-1 lead they would carry into the final period.
 
The Pilgrims leveled the score four minutes into the third off an unfortunate bounce off the referee that set up Sidney Capolino for the score, but coming right back with the response once again was Greenwood.
 
Just 30 seconds after NEC tied the game at two, Katherine Campoli sent in a shot that was deflected not once but twice, with Greenwood getting the final redirect on it to get it past Podvey to complete the hat-trick and give Castleton the lead for good.
 
The teams would trade blows over the next four minutes before Benedict scored one of her own just under halfway into the final period to make it 4-2 in favor of the Spartans. The sophomore fought for the puck in the corner and came away with it before sneaking around the net and lifting it over Podvey for her first goal of the game and sixth on the year.
 
Gauthier picked up her career-best fourth assist on Benedict's goal, giving her 40 for her career and placing her in sole possession of third place on Castleton's all-time assists list.
 
After providing the helper on the Spartans' first four goals, Gauthier found the back of the net herself just 14 seconds later on a wrist shot from the slot to put Castleton up three and hand them the 5-2 win.
 
The Spartans are back on the ice next weekend for a much tougher test as they host No. 9 Norwich Friday, Jan. 21. Puck drop is scheduled for 6 PM.