BOSTON, Mass. – The Castleton women's hockey team took on UMass Boston in the quarterfinal round of the NEHC playoffs Saturday afternoon, and after three periods of tightly contested hockey, Darby Palisi's game-winner in overtime was the difference-maker in the Spartans' 3-2 win over the Beacons.
 
The game got off to a very quick start, as the Spartans (14-9-2, 11-6-1 NEHC) took just 37 seconds to open up the scoring. Brooke Greenwood got the puck in the neutral zone on a feed from Courtney Gauthier and went on the attack, beating a Beacons defender before rifling a shot toward net from the slot. UMass Boston netminder Victoria Kennedy made the initial save, but Greenwood was first to the rebound, sneaking the loose puck in to give Castleton the 1-0 lead.
 
Just under six minutes later, the Spartans doubled their lead off of Courtney Gauthier's 11^th goal of the season. Emery Bonner started with the puck in her own zone before feeding Nancy Benedict. The sophomore carried the puck into the neutral zone and dumped it deep, using her speed to be first to the puck in the Beacons' zone. Benedict then turned and found a waiting Gauthier, who hit one-time the puck high and into the far corner to make it a 2-0 game.
 
Given the hot start it appeared as though Castleton was in control of the game, but two unanswered goals for the Beacons at the 8:29 and 17:40 marks leveled the game at two before the first period could end.
 
After the high-scoring first frame, both teams went on the defensive for the remaining two periods of regulation. Castleton's Kirsten DiCicco racked up 24 saves over the final two periods while UMass Boston's Kennedy denied 22 shots to keep the game level and send it into overtime.
 
The extra period was largely controlled by the Beacons, but all it took was one opportunity for assistant captain Palisi to convert and send her team to the semi-finals.
 
Miranda Wheeler controlled the puck in the Spartans' zone and sent a high clearance toward center ice. The puck took a difficult bounce and Emily Harris was the first to it, poking it along the boards for Palisi. The junior carried the puck into UMass Boston's zone and sent a show low and hard toward the far post, sneaking it under Kennedy's glove and in for the game-winning score, her second of the season.
 
After dropping their first matchup at home, Castleton has now beaten UMass Boston in their last two meetings, winning each game by a final score of 3-2.
 
Next up for the Spartans is a trip to the NEHC semi-finals where they will take on Norwich University Saturday, Feb. 26. Puck drop is set for 3:00 p.m.