RUTLAND, Vt. -- The Vermont State University Castleton men's ice hockey team partook in a high-scoring affair with Wentworth Institute of Technology at home on Saturday afternoon, tying 4-4, but winning the shootout 2-1.

The Basics
• Final Score: VTSU Castleton 4, Wentworth 4
• Location: Spartan Arena – Rutland, Vt.
• Records: Castleton 0-1-1 | Wentworth 0-1-1

How It Happened
Wentworth took little time to get acquainted with the surface of Spartan Arena, scoring just 29 seconds into the contest. The tempo slowed as the period went on, but the visitors continued to lead offensively, peppering the Castleton defense with shots. The green and white was finally able to get an offensive push of its own as Trevor Castino scored his first goal of the season, assisted by Tyler Burke at 13:39.

The Spartans were able to gain their first lead of the day as Josef Vyvial was able to beat the Leopards' netminder. Cole Bowditch owned the assists on the score as his squad led 2-1 with three minutes remaining in the opening stanza. Less than 60 seconds later, Wentworth knotted the game at 2-2, a score that would stand heading into the first intermission.

The pair traded shots back and forth in the early goings of period two, neither able to put up a shot that counted. That is, until Wentworth went ahead again on an Anthony Dalessio score at 11:16. Castleton answered at 13:32 as Jackson Edwards got his first score of the season, while Bowditch got his second assist of the day to make it 3-3.

It took three minutes for the Spartans to put up their fourth score of the day, this time a goal by Cedrick Theodore, helped along by rookie Holdin Getzlaf. The team's 4-3 lead stood for a majority of the third period. The visitors pulled their goalkeeper at 17:39, electing for a sixth skater. The decision paid off as the Leopards scored at 18:28 to tie the game up at 4-4, forcing an eventual overtime period.

Castleton dominated the 3-on-3 overtime period, putting up seven shots on goal to Wentworth's one. The Leopard goaltender stood tall, making the necessary saves to force a shootout.

The Spartans would win the shootout as Edwards and Cam Reid were able to be Topher Chirico, while the Leopards were only successful on one of their three attempts.  
 
By the Numbers

• Bowditch's future looks bright as the rookie leads the team with two points after he handed out two assists.
• Everybody had a hand in the day's result as there were four different goal scorers for Castleton.
• In goal, Charles Watson made 22 saves to keep his squad in the game. He was helped along by his defensive line, who pitched in eight blocked shots, led by Reid with two.
• Castleton dominated the stat sheet with 50 shots to the visitors' 26. They also won the faceoff battle 40-24.

Up Next
The Spartans remain at home next week as they welcome New England College to Spartan open league play in the inaugural season of Little East Conference hockey on Friday. The game is set for a 7 p.m. puck drop.