GORHAM, Me. – The Castleton women's hockey team fell just short in the rematch against Southern Maine Friday night, failing to convert on all six of their powerplay opportunities in a 2-1 loss to the Huskies.
 
The contest got off to a slow start for the Spartans (7-8-2, 5-5-1 NEHC). Despite getting consecutive powerplay chances in the opening frame, Castleton got just five shots on net compared to nine for Southern Maine. Fortunately for the Spartans, their penalty kill also looked strong in the early going, denying the Huskies (11-8-0, 8-5-0 NEHC) of a powerplay goal just over halfway through the period to keep it scoreless after one.
 
Castleton has now conceded just four goals on 67 powerplays for an NEHC-best penalty kill percentage of 94%.
 
Southern Maine broke the tie just over a minute into the second period off a Madison Chagnon goal, but the Spartans responded quickly via Jenna Krikorian's first score of the year. Ryanne Mix controlled the puck in Castleton's zone and play it off the boards to Alex Johnson, who beat a defender before sending the puck across the net toward a streaking Krikorian. The sophomore kept her composure and one-timed the puck into the top corner for her first goal of the season and second of her career.
 
Each side got another shot with a player advantage before the Huskies once again took the lead with four minutes to go in the second. The Spartans got a brief powerplay opportunity before a Samantha Lawler penalty brought the teams back to even strength, meaning Castleton would enter the final period down one.
 
After killing Southern Maine's fifth powerplay of the night, the Spartans turned up the pressure. Castleton outshot the Huskies 10-6 in the final period but were unable to get anything past Southern Maine netminder Haley McKim, resulting in the 2-1 loss.
 
The Spartans will look to end their current road trip on a higher note as they take on Salem State Sunday, Jan. 30. Puck drop is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.