RUTLAND, Vt. – The Vermont State University Castleton women's hockey season opened their 2024-25 season with a 3-2 victory over Plymouth State at home Wednesday evening. 

Alex Johnson netted a pair of solo goals, including the game-winning goal. While first-year Olivia Carter tallied her first career goal in her collegiate debut. Victoria Bakopanos earned the victory with a 25-save performance.

Plymouth got off to a hot start with Laura Castronova scoring her third goal of the season in just 23 seconds to put the Panthers up 1-0. The Panthers didn't stop there as Lauren McNeil picked up a loose puck the Spartans tried to disperse carried through the lane and slotted it past Bakopanos to extend Plymouth's lead to two after the first period of play.

Despite being down, Castleton stayed calm and true to their game with great passing and movement off the puck to open lanes for opportunities. The Spartans found their first goal with Moa Carlsson playing a pick across ice to Ellie Schliebener. Schliebener speeding down the left lane put the puck on the net for Olivia Carter to swarm in to find the rebound and bury the puck into the back of the net to give Castleton their first goal of the game.

With momentum on their side, the Spartans were in full control and could tie the game up when Johnson intercepted a pass took the puck to the net, and scored on the opportunity to make it a 2-2 game after two periods.

For the game-winning goal, Johnson hustled down the Plymouth defender and was able to soak a pass and have it land right in front of her in the Panthers' defensive. Just needing to beat the keeper, Johnson set herself up and sniped the top shelf for her second of the game and give Castleton a 3-2 win to kick off their 2024-25 campaign,

VTSU Castleton returns to action Friday, November 8 at 4 p.m. against Southern Maine at home.