RUTLAND, Vt. – The Vermont State University Castleton women's ice hockey team picked up where it left off in the Fall Semester as it took down Anna Maria College in the opening round of the Bagley Invitational on Friday afternoon, 1-0.

The Basics

• Final Score: VTSU Castleton 1, Anna Maria 0
• Location: Spartan Arena – Rutland, Vt.
• Records: Castleton 6-6-0 | Anna Maria 3-6-1

How It Happened
Castleton hit the ice like it had not just spent the past three weeks on break, racking up six high-quality shots before finally finding the back of the net off a faceoff in the seventh minute. 

The Spartans' score was the product of a Mikayla Brightman faceoff win to the right of the Amcats' goal, as she won it back to Olivia Carter, who wasted no time ripping it on goal for her second tally of the season.

The hosts did not let up, sending nine more shots on goal before the first period came to an end, holding a 1-0 advantage. The defense did its part in the stanza, blocking four shots and allowing just two to trickle on goal as Kara Boassaly made light work of them.

Castleton continued to dominate offensively in the middle period, outshooting Anna Maria 10-7. The story remained the same throughout, as the Spartans again bested the shot count 13-3 in the final period to secure their first victory of 2026, 1-0.

By the Numbers

• Carter is now tied for third on the team in total points as she added the game-winning goal to her stat line (2g, 6a, 8pts).
• On top of her assist, Brightman recorded a team-best 11 faceoff wins, going 11-for-14 at the circle.
• Gracie Hurlbut pitched in defensively with three blocks, while Taylor Adams added two.
• Boassaly made 13 saves en route to her first shutout and third victory of the season.
• The Spartans dominated both the shot count (37-13) and faceoff (31-11) categories.

 

Up Next
Castleton will return to action at 4 p.m. on Saturday as it takes on Worcester State University in the Bagley Invitational Championship game.