PLYMOUTH, N.H. – With just under a minute to go and the Castleton women's hockey team down one, it looked as though the Spartans would be handed a second straight loss in their matchup against Plymouth State Tuesday afternoon. But thanks to some late-game heroics from Julia Carpenter and Samantha Lawler, the Spartans staged a miracle comeback, forcing OT and scoring the eventual game-winner 20 seconds into the extra period to claim a crucial three points in NEHC play.
 
The game got off to a slow start for both sides, with Castleton (7-7-2, 5-4-1 NEHC) getting off two shots compared to five for the Panthers. But just under three minutes into the second period it was Plymouth (5-10-1, 3-7-0) drawing first blood, as Addie Swanson followed her own shot for the score to make it a 1-0 game.
 
The Spartans would get two powerplay opportunities in the remainder of the period, but were unable to convert, getting off just four shots combined. Luckily for Castleton, as has been the case all year, their powerplay defense was excellent as well, denying the Panthers of a man-advantage goal on five occasions, improving upon their already conference-best penalty kill percentage.
 
The third period brought more of the same, as the sides continued to trade blows, until Spartan goaltender Kirsten DiCicco was pulled at the 18:32 mark. With just under a minute left in regulation and the player advantage, Castleton turned on the pressure before finally capitalizing with under 50 seconds to go.
 
Winning her team-best 11^th faceoff of the day, Carpenter sent the puck back to Nancy Benedict. The sophomore controlled the puck and passed it on to assistant captain Darby Palisi, who rifled a one-time shot toward the net. Plymouth State goalie Olivia Petitio — who had been strong in net all day — made the initial save but lost the puck at her pads, allowing Carpenter to race in and lift the puck up and into the back of the net to tie the game at one and send it into extra time.
 
Overtime had not been favorable to the Spartans to this point in the season, as the team sat at 0-1-2 in their three games that went to extra time, but they wasted no time wrapping up Tuesday afternoon's match in quick fashion.
 
Carpenter once again won the faceoff and sent the puck back into her own zone for Ryanne Mix to gather. The senior, who missed Castleton's last contest against No. 9 Norwich, carried the puck down the ice, behind the Panthers' net and wrapped it around toward a waiting Lawler, who one-timed the it into the open net to end the game just 20 seconds into extra time.
 
The goal was Lawler's second on the season and third career game-winner, completing the comeback and giving the Spartans the 2-1 win.
 
Castleton will look to ride this momentum as their road trip continues Friday, Jan. 28 with a matchup against Southern Maine. Puck drop is set for 6:00 p.m.