SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. – The Castleton men's hockey team scored three goals in the opening period of their matchup with Saint Michael's Tuesday night, riding the hot start to a 3-2 victory over the Purple Knights on the road.
 
Jackson Kobelka, Jackson Edwards, and Brandon Picard all found the back of the net in the first frame — Kobelka's score was the first of his career — while Brandon Collett made 13 saves and allowed a pair of goals in his second victory of the season.
 
The Spartans (4-8-0, 2-4-0 NEHC) controlled the game from the opening puck drop, getting a pair of shots on net in the first two minutes before Jackson Kobelka scored his first collegiate goal at the 4:21 mark. Starting with the puck in their own zone, Zach Papapetros chipped the puck along the boards to a Grady Birk. The junior carried it into the neutral zone creating a two-on-one chance before sending a pass to a streaking Kobelka who sent the one-timer home to make it a 1-0 game.
 
Castleton remained in the driver's seat as the period continued, doubling their lead halfway through the frame via Edwards' second of the year. This time it was the freshman starting the break, as his centering pass found Anthony Persi who then laid it off to Cedrick Theodore. The defenseman carried the puck into the attacking zone and left it for Edwards, who beat a defender and sent a shot into the top of the net from the left post to extend the Spartan's lead to two.
 
It looked as though that would be the score heading into the break, but a third goal with just 18 seconds left on the clock gave Castleton a commanding 3-0 lead after 20 minutes. Completing the team hat trick, Picard controlled the puck at the right circle, passing it to Nicolas Garneau behind the net. The junior sent it to the top of the zone toward Romeo Torain, who rifled a shot toward net that was deflected and sent into the nylon by Picard. The score was the senior's fourth of the year to go along with five assists, both of which rank second on the team.
 
Saint Michael's would cut the deficit to one with goals in both the second and third period, but the early lead built by Castleton proved too much to overcome, as the Spartans claimed the 3-2 road win.
 
Next up for Castleton is a trip to Connecticut to face off against Albertus Magnus Friday, December 9, with puck drop set for 4 p.m.