RUTLAND, Vt. – After falling behind 2-0 midway through the second period in their non-conference matchup with Worcester State Friday night, the Castleton women's hockey rallied to score four unanswered goals en route to a 4-2 win in front of the home crowd.
 
The Spartans (2-0) held a narrow 33-28 advantage in shots, with the biggest difference in Friday night's contest being the powerplay. Castleton was able to convert on two of their four opportunities with the player advantage, while their penalty kill held the Lancers (2-1) to just six shots and no scores on their four chances.
 
There was nothing to separate the two sides in the first period as both teams got 12 shots on net, but none got past Worcester's Amber Lee or Castleton's Izabella Segui. Making her first start of the season in net, Segui looked strong between the pipes, saving 26 of the 28 shots she faced in the win.
 
The second stanza got off to a slow start for the Spartans and 10 minutes in it was Worcester State taking the lead. Castleton then fell behind further three minutes later after the Lancers capitalized on a turnover in the Spartans' zone and beat Segui one-on-one to make it 2-0.
 
Now behind two scores Castleton ramped up their offensive pressure, drawing a penalty at the 16:13 mark and rattling off five shots before finally scoring their first of the night with just two seconds left on the powerplay.
 
Miranda Wheeler controlled the puck at the top of the zone and sent a shot toward net that was blocked by a Worcester State body. The loose puck found its way to freshman Ellie Schliebener, who took a shot that was saved and deflected off the body of Rachel McNeil to the stick of Julia Carpenter, who slotted it home to cut the deficit to one.
 
Wasting no time, the Spartans leveled the game less than a minute later on Darby Palisi's first of the afternoon. Carrying the puck into the attacking zone on a feed from Emery Bonner, the senior captain sent a low shot to the far corner that snuck by the Lancers' netminder to make it a 2-2 game heading into the final period.
 
The penalties continued to pile up in the third period, and with four players on the ice for both sides it was Palisi striking again to give Castleton the lead on a feed from Brooke Greenwood. As was the case in the second period the Spartans wasted no time adding to their lead, scoring their fourth of the game under two minutes later on Moa Carlsson's first career goal to make it 4-2.
 
The Lancers pulled their goalie with two minutes to go in hopes of cutting into the lead, but Castleton stood tall to earn their second win of the year.
 
The Spartans will look to continue their hot start to the season Friday, November 11 when they host No. 11 Norwich at 6 p.m.