Rutland, Vt. – Moa Carlsson's historic day helps Vermont State University Castleton women's hockey defeat William Smith, 4-1 Friday evening.
 
VTSU Castleton took on conference opponent William Smith Friday evening at Spartan Arena. The Spartans entered the matchup looking to extend their win streak to four games, after defeating Salem St last week. With puck drop taking place at Spartan Arena, the teams were off and ready. The Herons brought the energy and were able to find the back of the net in just under a minute to take an early lead. After letting an early goal, senior keeper Kirsten DiCicco got settled in began shutting down the Herons efforts.
 
Despite being down early, the Spartans played with confidence and kept the game within their hands. After multiple opportunities, Castleton would find themselves on a 2-0 on breakout, with Victoria Griffin sliding the pass to senior Emily Harris, who charged the goalie and slipped one by to even the score at one heading into the third period.
 
Taking over the third period was sophomore Moa Carlsson. Carlsson and the Spartans entered the third period on the power play, where first year forward Taylor Adams cycled the puck to the back of the net to find assistant captain Julia Carpenter, who made a brilliant one touch pass to Carlsson to blast one past the keeper and give the Spartans their first lead of the game.
 
The Herons had their chances to even the score but the defensive efforts from DiCicco and the Spartans would not allow them to get back into the game. William Smith was granted six power play opportunities in the third period alone. However, it would be Carlsson and the Spartans taking advantage of the Herons while being shorthanded. Codi Bacon and Meg Aiken connected with each other to dump the puck down the ice and find Carlsson on a breakaway. Carlsson burned by the last defender and slotted the breakaway opportunity past the keeper for her second of the game and to extend Castleton's lead to two.
 
With little time remaining, William Smith came out of a timeout being on the power play once again. Carpenter won the faceoff towards Nora Pollestad, who found Carlsson breaking out once again down the ice. Carlsson's speed was no much for the Heron's defense, as Carlsson put the puck into the empty to complete her natural hat-trick and tally her second shorthanded goal of the game to finalize the Spartans 4-1 victory.
 
Carlsson is the first player to score two shorthanded goals since Anna Daniels back in 2014. With four shorthanded goals this season, the Huddinge, Sweden native became Castleton's single season record holder for most shorthanded goals in a season and tied Katelyn Greene for the most shorthand goals in program history.
 
The Spartans will wrap up the regular season play with senior day at Spartan Arena, taking place Saturday, February 10 at 3 p.m. against Elmira.