PLYMOUTH, N.H. – The Vermont State University Castleton men's ice hockey team battled Plymouth State University, who is receiving votes in the national rankings, through overtime on Saturday afternoon, earning a 2-2 tie in Little East Conference action.
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The Basics
• Final Score: VTSU Castleton 2, Plymouth State 2
• Location: Plymouth, N.H. | Hanaway Rink
• Records: VTSU Castleton 0-2-2 (0-0-2 LEC) | Plymouth State 2-1-1 (0-1-1 LEC)
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How It Happened
Plymouth State wasted little time getting on the board, scoring just under three minutes into the opening period to put Castleton in an early hole. The Spartans found their answer midway through the frame, as
Austin Haldane buried his first collegiate goal.
Cole Bowditch and
Josef Vyvial picked up assists on the equalizer, bringing Castleton back even at one.
With the opening period setting a competitive tone, the Spartans carried that momentum into the second. Castleton found a breakthrough while shorthanded when
David Coyle converted off a feed from
Trevor Castino to give the Spartans their first lead of the afternoon. They held Plymouth State to a scoreless second period, taking a 2-1 advantage into the final 20 minutes.
The Panthers came out of the intermission looking to erase the deficit, finding the equalizer three minutes into the third period. With the score knotted at two, both teams traded scoring opportunities looking for the decisive goal. Neither side could find the finishing touch, sending the game into overtime.
The five-minute overtime period gave Castleton a golden opportunity to secure the win when Plymouth State was called for high sticking, putting the Spartans on a 4-on-3 power play. The Panthers' goaltender stood tall throughout the advantage, keeping Castleton contained and forcing the game into a shootout. The Panthers were able to earn the extra point in shootouts.
By the Numbers
Up Next
The Spartans return home to Spartan Arena on Friday, Nov. 13, to host the University of Southern Maine in Little East Conference action at 7 p.m. Â
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