BABSON PARK, Mass. – The Vermont State University Castleton men's ice hockey team fell to #15 Babson College 4-3 on Saturday afternoon despite holding a lead for most of the game.

The Basics
• Final Score: #15 Babson 4, VTSU Castleton 3
• Location: Babson Skating Center – Babson Park, Mass.
• Records: Babson 6-0-0 (4-0-0 LEC) | Castleton 1-4-1 (1-3-0 LEC)

How It Happened
Castleton struck early, capitalizing just 24 seconds in when Jackson Edwards' initial shot was cleaned up by Josef Vyvial for a 1-0 lead. Trevor Castino picked up the secondary assist.

Castino doubled the advantage minutes later, scoring unassisted at 3:13 to make it 2-0. First-year goaltender Lukas Bukatovs turned away eight shots in the opening frame to send the Spartans into the first intermission up two.

Babson cut the lead to 2-1 four minutes into the second period on a power play. Castleton answered late in the frame, as Cam Reid buried a power play goal at 19:28 off feeds from Emmett McHardy and Logan Dapprich to push the lead to 3-1 heading into the third.

The Beavers responded with three unanswered in the final period, including two goals 13 seconds apart, to complete the comeback and edge the Spartans 4-3.

By the Numbers
• Castino led the Spartans with two points (1g, 1a). Reid and Vyvial each added a goal.
• Bukatovs made 23 saves in his collegiate debut.
• The Spartan power play finished 1-for-3; the penalty kill was 1-for-2.
• Castleton controlled the faceoff circle 37-24, with McHardy winning a team-high 13 draws.

Up Next
Castleton continues its road stretch on Friday, November 21, at UMass Boston for a 7 p.m. LEC matchup with the Beacons.