RUTLAND, Vt. – The Castleton men's hockey team nearly completed a historic comeback in their matchup with Saint Anselm Saturday afternoon, but despite scoring three goals in the final period, the Spartans efforts fell just shy in a 4-3 loss in the Terry Moran Invitational Championship.
 
The Hawks (7-2-1, 4-2-1 NE10) held a slight 30-28 advantage in shots by the final whistle, but the decider in Friday's contest was converting on the powerplay. Saint Anselm went 2-3 with the man advantage in the game, while Castleton (3-6-0, 2-2-0 NEHC) scored on just one of their six powerplay opportunities.
 
After a scoreless first period in which the Spartans held a 14-10 advantage in shots, it was Saint Anselm breaking the tie four minutes into the second. After holding Castleton without a goal on their first three powerplay chances, the Hawks found the back of the net just 21 seconds into their first of the afternoon to double their lead to 2-0 through two periods.

The third period began with another Saint Anselm goal to make it a 3-0 game before the Spartans began their heroic comeback, starting with Justin Stairs' first score of the year.
 
Playing with the man advantage, Bryce Irwin sent a puck from behind the net to Zack Whittaker at the top of the zone. The freshman laid it off to Stairs, who rifled a shot up and over the Hawks' goalie and in for the score, beginning a stretch of hockey in which four goals were scored in under three minutes.
 
Next up to join the scoring column was Francis Young-Menard, who the lead to one just two minutes later with his second score of the season. The sophomore's shot from the right circle made it a 3-2 game with 14 minutes to go, but an answer from Saint Anselm at the 6:36-mark extended their lead back to two shortly after.
 
Continuing the offensive showcase, it was Balint Mesterhazy scoring his second of the season just over seven minutes into the period, scoring on a feed from Stefura — who was named to the All-Tournament Team after tallying two goals and three assists over his two games — to make it 4-3, a score that would remain until the final buzzer.
 
Next up for Castleton is a four-game road trip, that kicks off with a matchup against top-ranked Hobart Friday, December 2. Puck drop for the NEHC bout is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
2022 Terry Moran Invitational All-Tournament Team
Andrew Andrary – Saint Anselm (MVP)
Chase Reynolds – Saint Anselm
Nick Howard – Saint Anselm
Andrew Stefura – Castleton
Stone Stelzl – Castleton
Tyler Vaunden – Buffalo State
Conor Foley – Franklin Pierce