RUTLAND, Vt. – The Vermont State University Castleton women's ice hockey team dropped a Little East Conference contest to the University of Southern Maine on Friday evening, 5-0.
The Basics
• Final Score: Southern Maine 5, Castleton 0
• Location: Spartan Arena – Rutland, Vt.
• Records: Southern Maine 8-8-1 (7-3-1 LEC) | Castleton 8-10-0 (4-7-0 LEC)
How It Happened
The opening period was an even battle, as both teams continued to find their footing offensively. The score remained 0-0 after 20 minutes of play, with the Spartans outshooting the Huskies 11-5 while also winning the blocking battle, 8-4.
Southern Maine came out of the gates swinging in the second period, scoring its first goal at the 8:18 mark. Castleton responded with three strong shots on goal, with two more blocked on their way to the crease. The visitors would score once more at 13:46 for an insurance tally to make it 2-0.
Castleton's best scoring opportunity came with 2:56 remaining in the middle frame as the Spartans went on a 5-on-3 power play. Despite the significant staffing advantage, the Spartans were only able to generate two shots on goal. Southern Maine carried a 2-0 lead into the third period.
Period three was all USM, as it tacked on three more tallies to skate away with a 5-0 victory. The first score came just 67 seconds into the stanza, while the other two came inside the final three minutes—one of which was an empty-netter as the Spartans looked to deny the shutout with an extra skater.
By the Numbers
•
Olivia Carter and
Brooke Noble each pitched in three blocked shots in the defensive effort
•
Taylor Adams did her part in the faceoff circle, going 13-for-20 on the draw
• Castleton beat out USM 30-22 at the faceoff dot
• In the crease,
Gianna McCusker made 19 saves while her team helped block 14 shots
Up Next
The Spartans return home tomorrow, January 24, for the second game of the weekend series with the University of Southern Maine. The matchup also marks the program's 17th annual Pink the Rink event in partnership with the Rutland Regional Medical Group's Foley Cancer Center, with puck drop slated for 3 p.m. in LEC action.
