RUTLAND, Vt. – The Vermont State University Castleton men's hockey team defeated MCLA, 1-0, in Day 1 of the Terry Moran Invitational to reach the championship game for the third consecutive season.

Anthony Persi provided the Spartans' (4-4) game-winning goal off an assist by Jason Atkinson. Stone Stelzl led the defense with four shot blocks while Logan Dapprich denied two. In the crease, Simon Brenter picked up his first career shutout with 22 saves.

Midway through the opening stanza, Atkinson whisked the puck away from MCLA (2-5-1) who attempted to wrap behind the Trailblazer net. He found Persi on a pass to the doorstep as the Livermore, Calif. native jammed in his second tally of the year.

MCLA began to test Brenter more in the second frame with nine shots on goal, seven coming in the last nine minutes. With the help of bodies like Dapprich and Matteo Turrin, the Spartans continued to safeguard its defensive end and remain unblemished.

Despite multiple power play chances for the visitors in the third period, VTSU Castleton successfully killed all three penalties to hold off the Trailblazers and advance to the tournament final.

The Spartans line up against Rivier tomorrow (November 25) for the Terry Moran Invitational crown at 4 p.m.