RUTLAND, Vt. – The Castleton men's hockey team hosted Plattsburgh State Saturday night, falling 5-0 to the Cardinals in their home-opener.
 
The Spartans were narrowly outpaced in shots on net (35-27) and in the faceoff game (43-33) in the contest, and were unable to convert on any of their six powerplay chances while Plattsburgh went 1-3 on the night. Between the pipes, Dominic Rodrigue made his first start of the season, making 30 saves while allowing five goals.
 
Castleton (0-2) fell behind early in Saturday's game when the Cardinals (1-0-1) scored with a pair of goals in at the 7:41 and 11:35 minute marks to jump out to a 2-0 lead. The Spartans had a chance to answer after going on a their first powerplay of the afternoon with six minutes left in the period, but could only muster one shot on net by Zach Papapetros, keeping Castleton at a two-goal deficit at the first break.
 
Things were more tightly contested in the second period with the Spartans getting 11 shots on frame, but it was the Cardinals adding to their lead once again with another score 13 minutes in to make it a 3-0 game.
 
Plattsburgh added two more insurance goals in the third period to make it a five-goal difference, and despite the Spartans going on the powerplay on three different occasions, they were unable to get one past the Cardinals' goaltender, resulting in the 5-0 loss.
 
The Spartans return to action Saturday, November 5 when they host SUNY Canton in non-conference action, with puck drop set for 7 p.m.