RUTLAND, Vt. – The Castleton men's hockey team came within a goal in their non-conference matchup against SUNY Canton Saturday night, but were unable to complete the comeback falling 5-4 to the Kangaroos in front of the home crowd.
The Spartans (0-3-0) held a 46-25 shot advantage and converted on two of their seven powerplay opportunities, but an early onslaught from SUNY Canton (2-2-0) proved too much to overcome in the close loss.
Castleton began Saturday's contest on the front foot rattling off the night's first four shots, but none got past the Kangaroos' Filip Schlyter. After the sides traded chances over the ensuing 10 minutes, it was SUNY Canton capitalizing on a turnover in the Spartans' zone to take the 1-0 lead. As was the case all night, the first goal was followed quickly by another as the Kangaroos doubled their lead two minutes later to make it 2-0 after the first period.
SUNY Canton tacked on a third goal 30 seconds into the second frame, but responding almost immediately was Castleton and Brandon Picard for his first score of the season. Zack Whittaker sent a pass deep that Zach Trempner was the first to get to. The assistant captain laid it off to Nicholas Garneau, who then found a cutting Picard for the one-time finish, making it a two-score game once again.
Continuing the high-octane period, the Kangaroos added scores at the 12:20 and 13:25 mark before the Spartans began to chip away at the deficit with their first of three unanswered goals with under four to go in the second period. Picard controlled the puck in his own zone and carried it from end to end before sending a backhander toward net. The initial save was made, but there for the rebound was Balint Mesterhazy for his first collegiate goal to make it a 5-2 game entering the third.
After dominating much of the final period, Castleton struck once again — this time from Francis Young-Menard — to cut the lead to two halfway through the third. Garneau and Picard battled for a loose puck in front of net that popped out toward the stick of Young-Menard, who took it left and sent a rising shot into the far corner for his first goal in a Spartan uniform.
Striking again just four minutes later was Zach Papapetros to make it a one-score game. Last year's powerplay goal leader, the sophomore struck once again with a rifle from the top of the zone that snuck its way into the net to make it 5-4.
Castleton attempted to pull keeper
Brandon Collett with two minutes left in regulation, but a pair of penalties on the Spartans forced him to return. Finding themselves down a man, Castleton did not register a shot in the game's final two minute an route to the 5-4 loss.
The Spartans return to action in their NEHC-opener against Norwich Friday, November 11, with puck drop set for 7 p.m.
