RUTLAND, Vt. – The Castleton women's hockey team got help from everyone in their win over William Smith Friday night, taking the lead on three separate occasions from three different goal scorers before finally earning the 3-2 victory in front of the home crowd.
 
Emily Harris got things started for the Spartans (10-8-2, 8-5-1 NEHC) with a beautiful individual effort halfway into the opening period to give her team the lead. The Herons were forced out of sync after pressure from Julia Carpenter pushed them back into their own zone, and an attempt to clear the puck was intercepted by Harris. The sophomore controlled the puck just inside the zone and beat two William Smith defenders before backhanding the puck up and over the Herons' goalkeeper to put Castleton up one.
 
The goal pushed Harris' season goal tally to five — one shy of her total from last year — to go along with her career-best eight assists.
 
The Spartans looked poised to double their lead after going on the powerplay with six minutes left in the first, but it was William Smith (6-14-1, 4-9-1 NEHC) taking advantage of a Castleton turnover and scoring a shorthanded goal to tie the game at one — the first shorthanded goal the Spartans have allowed this season.
 
A scoreless second period in which the two teams traded blows would set the table for a dramatic final frame to decide who would win a crucial three points in conference play and who would go home emptyhanded.
 
The Spartans struck first under a minute into the third period off Katie Nealon's third goal of the season. Emery Bonner stole the puck in the neutral zone and passed it off to Nealon. The junior carried the puck around the Herons' net and to the goal line, where she sent a slow roller that snuck under the William Smith keeper's pads and in for the score.
 
The Herons would level the score once again at the 12:36 mark to make it a 2-2 game, but another late-goal from Carpenter gave Castleton a lead that, this time, they would not relinquish.
 
Bonner sent a shot toward net that was blocked by a William Smith defender, but Carpenter was first to the puck. The sophomore then did a nice one-two with Bonner before rifling a low shot that snuck into the back of the net to give the Spartans their third and final lead of the night.
 
The goal was Carpenter's second game winner in her last five games and gives her six on the season paired with four assists.
 
The Herons had another shot to respond after going on the powerplay with three minutes left and even getting a brief 6-on-4 after pulling their goaltender, but the Castleton penalty kill stood tall once again, shutting down any William Smith opportunities and sealing the 3-2 win.
 
The Spartans have a quick turnaround, as they are back in action Saturday, Feb. 5 to take on No. 3 Elmira College in their Senior Night game. Puck drop is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.