RUTLAND, Vt. -- Headwear flew from the Spartan Arena crowd Friday night as Darby Palisi pocketed her second career hat trick, allowing the Castleton women's hockey team to cruise past Salem State, 4-1.

The senior captain recorded two power-play tallies in the opening frame with a final score in the third stanza. Julia Carpenter tossed in the night's first goal, marking her third score of the season. Brooke Greenwood handed out a pair of assists to retain the team lead for points with 19. Also tabbed with helpers were Emily Harris, Rainey Lay, Samantha Lawler, and Meg Aiken with one apiece. Carpenter and Greenwood had successful nights in the faceoff circle, posting a combined record of 26-11. Kirsten DiCicco allowed just one goal with 24 saves to grab the sixth win of her junior campaign.

After 12 minutes of scoreless hockey, Lay sent the puck into the Spartans' (12-7-1, 9-4-0 NEHC) attacking zone to Carpenter. The Michigander found Harris on a give-and-go as a diving Carpenter sent a shot past Salem State (3-13-1, 1-11-1 NEHC) goalie Kaia Hollingsworth to take a 1-0 lead. The door reopened for the Spartans in the 16th minute when the Vikings were whistled for a major boarding penalty. In their man-advantage lineup, Aiken and Greenwood connected with Palisi who found paydirt to extend the gap. Moments later, Greenwood nearly added a goal but it was rebounded to Palisi. A pass to Lawler followed by a kick back to Palisi ended with the Concord, N.H. native just barely jamming in her second score of the night.

The 3-0 lead carried into the third period as the Vikings knocked but could not get in the door. Three minutes into the final 20, Palisi got a breakaway chance but her shot was saved and rebounded to Lawler who tapped the puck to Greenwood. Palisi came from behind, carried the puck behind the SSU net, making a 180-degree turn and firing home her third score to elicit a stream of hats. The hat-trick securing dart allowed Palisi to overtake Greenwood goals with 11 on the season. The Vikings prevented a shutout as Catherine Lawrence scored with 12:24 to go, but the deficit was too large as Castleton chalked up its ninth New England Hockey Conference victory.

The Spartans return to action tomorrow, January 28, seeking to avenge an early-season loss against Southern Maine. Puck drop is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Spartan Arena.