RUTLAND, Vt. – The Castleton women's hockey team took on Johnson & Wales in one of their most physical games of the season Monday night, outbattling the Wildcats en route to a 3-2 win in front of the home fans.
 
The two sides were even through the first 10 minutes of the opening period before Julia Carpenter found the back of the net on a redirect to break open the day's scoring. Just over 12 minutes into the frame, Darby Palisi sent the puck into traffic only for it to pop out to the stick of Alexandra Snow. The sophomore controlled it and sent it over the Miranda Wheeler, who ripped a shot toward net that Carpenter got her stick on to redirect it in for the score.
 
The goal was Carpenter's fourth in her last seven games and put the Spartans up 1-0 early.
 
Riding the momentum of their opening goal, Castleton (11-9-2, 9-6-1 NEHC) doubled their lead just 30 seconds later, this time coming on Alex Johnson's second score of the year. Emily Harris got the puck in Johnson & Wales' zone, beating two Wildcat defenders before having her shot saved. First to the puck for the rebound though was Katie Nealon, who controlled the puck and found Johnson with a wide open net to put the Spartans up 2-0.
 
Castleton would go on the powerplay — one of their five chances on the day — at the 19:02 mark in the period and ripped off five shots in quick succession, but were unable to convert and entered the first break with a two-goal lead.
 
Johnson & Wales (10-12-1, 7-9-0 NEHC) responded well in the second period, scoring two unanswered goals — including the fifth powerplay goal the Spartans have conceded all year — to level the score 15 minutes in, but Harris went to work once again, scoring what would be the eventual game-winner just 40 seconds after the game was tied.
 
Collecting the buck behind her own net, Wheeler found Palisi, who sent a quick outlet pass to Harris. The sophomore controlled the puck in the neutral zone, deked beautifully around the Wildcat defender and lifted the puck up and over Johnson & Wales' goalie to give Castleton back the lead heading into the final period.
 
There was a bit of a scare in the third, as the Spartans had to fight off the Wildcats with a player advantage on three separate occasions, including a five-minute powerplay after Snow was called for a game misconduct. Despite this, the Castleton penalty kill stood tall, holding Johnson & Wales scoreless in the period and earning the hard-fought, 3-2 win.
 
Next up for the Spartans is a road trip to Massachusetts Friday, Feb. 11 where they will take on UMass-Boston. Puck drop is set for 6:00 p.m.