PLYMOUTH, N.H. – The Vermont State University Castleton women's ice hockey team remained unbeaten, earning a 2-1 shootout victory over Plymouth State after playing to a 2-2 tie through regulation and overtime. The Spartans secured the extra LEC point with
Brooke Noble's decisive shootout goal.
The Basics
• Final Score: VTSU Castleton 2, Plymouth State 2
• Location: Plymouth, N.H. | Hanaway Rink
• Records: VTSU Castleton 4-0-1 (3-0-1 LEC) | Plymouth State 3-1-1 (2-1-1 LEC)
How It Happened
Plymouth State struck first at 6:43 of the opening period, taking a 1-0 lead. Castleton answered late in the frame with a power-play goal to even the score. Within 1:31 remaining,
Caris Erickson sent a pass across to
Taylor Adams, who quickly found
Mikayla Brightman on the opposite side. As the Panthers' goaltender shifted toward Adams in anticipation of a shot, Brightman took advantage of the opening and sent the puck into the net before the goalie could recover, tying the game at one.
The Panthers regained the lead in the second period, capitalizing on a power-play opportunity to take a 2-1 advantage into the final frame.
Castleton answered once again in the third period, taking advantage of another power-play opportunity. At 7:27 in the third, Erickson fired a shot from the top of the faceoff circle, sending the puck over the Panthers' goaltender's shoulder to tie the game at two.
Paityn Berry and Noble were credited with assists on the goal.
Neither team could find the go-ahead goal in the remaining minutes of regulation, sending the game into a five minute overtime period. Both sides had opportunities, but neither could break the tie, forcing a shootout.
Brightman stepped up first for the Spartans, carrying the puck in from a wide angle before patiently waiting for the goaltender to make a move. Brightman found her opening and lifted the puck high into the net to give Castleton an early edge. The Panthers evened the shootout in the second round waiting for
Gianna McCusker to commit before finding an open net to tie the score at one. With the shootout even, Noble took her opportunity in the third round, making a couple of moves in front of the net before beating the goaltender on the blocker side to put Castleton ahead, 2-1. McCusker denied Plymouth State's final attempt to seal the shootout victory and secure the extra conference point for the Spartans.
By the Numbers
- McCusker played all 65 minutes in net, making 26 saves.
- Castleton narrowly outshot Plymouth State, 31-28, and held a 46-31 advantage in faceoff wins.
Up Next
The Spartans will travel to the University of Southern Maine on Friday, November 20, for a Little East Conference matchup at 6 p.m.
