PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Vermont State University Castleton women's ice hockey team had an outstanding start to the 2025–26 season, going 1-1 against No. 8 Oswego State, with Moa Carlsson and Gianna McCusker earning the first-ever Little East Conference Women's Ice Hockey Player and Goalie of the Week honors.

Carlsson, who led the Spartans last season with 20 points on 11 goals and nine assists, picked up right where she left off, totaling three points on the weekend. The captain tallied a short-handed goal and an assist in Friday's 3-0 win over the Lakers, then scored the game-tying goal with 40 seconds remaining in Saturday's 3-2 loss.

McCusker was a driving force in Friday's shutout, stopping all 38 shots she faced for her first career clean sheet. She followed that up with a career-high 43 saves on Saturday, finishing the weekend with a 1.52 goals-against average and a .964 save percentage against a nationally ranked opponent.

The Spartans return to the ice Friday, traveling to No. 15 Norwich University for their first-ever LEC hockey contest, with puck drop set for 4 p.m.