HENNIKER, N.H. – The Vermont State University Castleton men's ice hockey team returned to the win column, capping off its road trip with a 3-0 victory over New England College.

The Basics
• Final Score: Castleton 3, New England 0
• Location: Lee Clement Arena – Henniker, N.H.
• Records: Castleton 10-7-1 (6-5-0 LEC) | New England 5-13-0 (4-7-0 LEC)

How It Happened
The opening period proved to be all Castleton needed, as the Spartans scored all three of their goals in the first 20 minutes. Josef Vyvial opened the scoring less than two minutes in with what stood as the eventual game-winner, assisted by Luke Chakrabarti and David Coyle.

Castleton added an insurance tally at 9:21 when Chakrabarti found the back of the net at even strength, with helpers from Cole Mathews and Emmett McHardy.

Holdin Getzlaf was whistled for tripping at 16:16, sending the Spartans to the penalty kill. Castleton responded by extending its lead, as Anthony Persi netted a shorthanded goal at 17:09, assisted by Marcus Bellomo, to make it 3-0 heading into the first intermission.

The host Pilgrims continued to search for offense, but Castleton's netminder stood tall, turning aside 29 shots over the final two periods to secure the 3-0 shutout.

By the Numbers
• Chakrabarti led the Spartans with two points on a goal and an assist, while Vyvial and Persi each added a goal.
• Three of Castleton's assist-getters were rookies this season: Coyle, Mathews, and Bellomo.
• In goal, Josh Ward made a career-high 43 saves to earn his fifth win of the season and second shutout.
• Defensively, the Spartans recorded five blocked shots, with Coyle leading the way with two.

Up Next
The Spartans return home on Friday, January 30, to open a weekend series with a 7 p.m. Little East Conference matchup against the Corsairs of UMass Dartmouth.