SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Vermont State University Castleton men's hockey team had its opponent within reach, but 13th-ranked Skidmore delivered two third-period, man advantage goals to deal a 5-3 loss to the Spartans on Saturday.

Andrew Stefura notched his fourth and fifth power-play strikes of the season, climbing to 13 in his three-year career which puts him just outside VTSU Castleton's (7-11-0, 4-8-0 NEHC) all-time list. Jackson Edwards nabbed an unassisted tally to become the only Spartan with a point in each of the last three contests. Jeremy LaPlante and Dylan Roebuck were credited with one assist apiece, marking their first points of the year. Cam Reid, Zach Papapetros, Josef Vyvial, and Bryce Irwin also collected dimes in the effort.

Making his fourth consecutive start between the pipes, Dominic Rodrigue saved 32 shots including a 13-stop second stanza. Shot-blocking was spread across six different skaters with five stopping two pucks each.

The Thoroughbreds (14-3-2, 8-2-2 NEHC) took the night's first lead when Jack Strauss turned a Spartan power play into offense, adding a short-handed goal in the 11th minute.

Kevin Urquhart connected with Strauss for a second time in the next period to make it a 2-0 Skidmore lead. The Spartans picked up their pace, converting on an ensuing power play as Stefura tossed in a feed from defensemen Reid and Papapetros. Castleton closed the gap when Edwards found paydirt with help from linemates LaPlante and Roebuck, keeping it knotted at 2-2 until Jacob Zwirecki sent in a go-ahead score with five seconds left in the frame.

Danny Magnuson and Cooper Rice gave the Thoroughbreds a three-goal cushion via power-play darts in the final stanza. Stefura struck back with a PPG of his own, but the Spartans were kept at bay for the game's last 5:07 to finalize proceedings at 5-3.

Castleton is back on the road next Friday, January 26 to challenge in-state rival Norwich inside Kreitzberg Arena at 7 p.m.