RUTLAND, Vt. – The Castleton men's hockey team jumped out to a commanding 4-0 lead that proved to be the difference-maker in their conference matchup against Southern Maine Friday night, as the Spartans fought off a late comeback attempt by the Huskies en route to a 4-3 win.
 
Castleton's freshman had their fingerprints all over Friday's contest. Anthony Persi, Jackson Edwards, and Jason Atkinson all tallied their first collegiate assists, Edwards and Atkinson grabbed their first collegiate scores, and Josh Ward begins his collegiate career undefeated with his first win between the pipes. The Spartans (2-4-0, 2-1-0 NEHC) also converted on their first two powerplays of the night with scores coming from Andrew Stefura and Brandon Picard.
 
Ward was put to the test early Friday night, having to make the game's first four saves before Castleton registered their first shot on net 11 minutes in. An interference penalty with under five to go would shift momentum in the Spartans' favor, however, as they took just 40 seconds to score the game's opening goal.
 
Keeping the puck in Southern Maine's zone, Balint Mesterhazy sent it up top to Zach Papapetros, who controlled it and sent it cross ice to Zach Trempner. The sophomore lined up a shot and ripped it low toward net, where Stefura was able to get his stick on it and redirect it into the top of the net for his second score of the year.
 
Castleton would go on the powerplay once again with under two minutes to go, and 60 seconds into their second powerplay of the night, doubled their lead on Picard's second of the year. Zach Whittaker found Edwards at the red line, who sent the puck toward Atkinson in the crease. The freshman wasted no time, backhanding the puck along to Picard who ripped a one-timer in to the back of the net to make it 2-0 after one.
 
The game was relatively even to begin the second period before the Spartans tacked on their third and fourth goals of the night from Edwards and Atkinson. Edwards's first career goal came on his own shot that was deflected high in front of net, where Trempner and Bryce Irwin did well to keep it away from the Huskies' goalie before the freshman slotted it home. Less than a minute later it was Atkinson's turn to score what would be the eventual game-winner.
 
Justin Stairs cleared the puck into the neutral zone where it was picked up by Persi. The freshman carried it into Southern Maine's zone before sending a shot toward net that was initially saved, but there for the rebound was Atkinson, who sent it to the back of the net to make it 4-0 with 20 minutes to go in regulation.
 
Now in desperation mode, the Huskies began mounting a comeback, scoring goals at the start and midway point of the period to make it a two-score game. Another goal with a man advantage after pulling their goalie made it a 4-3 game with under two minutes to go, but Ward stood tall the rest of the way to secure his first collegiate win, making 31 saves along the way.
 
Castleton will look to carry this momentum into their matchup against No. 7 Babson Saturday, November 19, with puck drop scheduled for 4 p.m.