GENEVA, N.Y. – The Castleton men's hockey team was tied two periods into their matchup with top-ranked Hobart Friday night, but a three-score third period by the Statesmen sent the Spartans home with a 4-1 loss despite a hard-fought 60 minutes.
 
Making his fourth start of the year, Brandon Collett was sensational in net for Castleton (3-7-0, 2-3-0 NEHC), saving 51 shots — the most since he stopped 55 his freshman year — and finishing with a save percentage of .927. On the offensive end, Brandon Picard picked up his third score of the year — his third consecutive game with a point — to end a three-game shutout streak for Hobart (9-0-0, 5-0-0 NEHC).
 
It was the Spartans jumping out to an early lead in Friday's contest with Picard's goal halfway through the opening period putting Castleton up 1-0. The Spartans then had a chance to double their lead after going on the powerplay with five minutes to go in the frame, but shots by Zach Papapetros and Cedrick Theodore were both turned aside by Statesmen defenders, bringing the game into the first break with Castleton up one.
 
Hungry for the equalizer, Hobart's offense sent shots toward Collett early and often in the second period. The senior was nearly perfect against the Statesmen's potent offense, however, saving the first 20 shots that found their way on frame in the period before finally letting one get past him to level the score at 1-1. After the rare miscue, Collett became a wall for the remainder of the period, denying another six shots to send Castleton into the final period knotted at one with top-ranked Hobart.
 
The offensive onslaught continued into the third period, where the Statesmen found scores on three different occasions — including one on the powerplay — to hand the Spartans the 4-1 loss.
 
Castleton returns to action Saturday, December 3 when they face off against Elmira College, with puck drop scheduled for 4 p.m.