RUTLAND, Vt. – The Castleton women's hockey team was outgunned by seventh-ranked Elmira, 4-1, in New England Hockey Conference action Saturday afternoon.
Emily Harris scored the Spartans' (5-5-0, 3-3-0 NEHC) third-period goal on assists by Miranda Wheeler and Julia Carpenter. Harris is the first player in the league to score on the Soaring Eagles (9-2-0, 8-0-0 NEHC) this season. Kirsten DiCicco amassed 32 saves between the pipes while Wheeler added a trio of blocks.
The teams traded shots on goal for the opening 12 minutes with Elmira winning ten faceoffs compared to Castleton's three. The Soaring Eagles' persistence paid off as Claire Elfring took the puck from her own blue line to the Spartan goal, slipping it inside the left pipe to take the lead. Jenny Heath was whistled for roughing moments later, putting CU on the game's first power play. However, Katie Manning blocked a pair of Spartan shots and Mary McCafferty sent the puck off the boards and into Elmira's attacking zone. DiCicco attempted to clear it, but Holley Riva snatched possession and tossed an unassisted short-handed goal.
Two minutes into the second stanza, the Spartans were penalized for tripping to spur an Elmira power play. The visitors would not convert, but struck again on even strength as MK Boyle finished a give-and-go from Emma Bradbury and Sophie Compeau. Moa Carlsson nearly created a breakaway opportunity soon after, but Morgan Mandini swiped at and broke the freshman Swede's stick and caused a Spartan power play. The EC defense held Castleton without a shot on goal and dominated possession, adding the fourth goal with 4:08 left as Bradbury tallied her second career score.
After an Elfring shot bounced off the crossbar, Castleton began to see an influx of chances as the final 20 minutes counted down. Soaring Eagle penalties for tripping and roughing gave the Spartans another power play opportunity. Wheeler guided the puck to Carpenter, who in turn dished it to Harris as the Brit put CU on the board with 5:48 to go. Six ensuing DiCicco stops kept the Eagles from scoring in the third period, finalizing the score at 4-1.
The Spartans take the ice Friday, December 9 against Rivier for the second time this season in the opening game of the Castleton Invitational. Puck drop is set for 4 p.m., followed by SUNY Potsdam and Colby at 7 p.m.
