KEENE, N.H. – The Vermont State University Castleton men's ice hockey team earned one point in a 2-1 overtime loss at Keene State on Friday evening.

The Basics
• Final Score: Keene State 2, Castleton 1 OT
• Location: Keene Ice – Keene, N.H.
• Records: Keene 7-15-0 (3-12-0 LEC) | Castleton 12-10-1 (8-8-0 LEC)
 
How It Happened
The two teams battled through two scoreless periods, thanks in part to locked-down defense on both sides of the ice. The hosts stopped 32 shots through the opening 40 minutes, while also blocking three attempts. Castleton's Josh Ward made 13 saves during that same stretch, with his team contributing eight blocks.

After Castleton dominated offensively for much of the first 55 minutes, it was Keene that struck first in the third period. The hosts capitalized on an errant Spartan pass in the defensive zone to take a 1-0 lead.

With time winding down, Castleton pulled netminder Josh Ward with just over a minute remaining in regulation. The Spartans wasted little time as Trevor Castino fired a shot that rebounded out to a waiting Luke Chakrabarti, who buried it to force overtime with just 54 seconds left. David Coyle was also credited with an assist.

Castleton attempted to hang on and force a shootout, but Keene controlled play in the extra period, registering all the shots. Ward made three saves in overtime, while Castino added a block.

With just over two minutes remaining in OT, the hosts buried a rebound to secure the 2-1 victory. On the upside, Castleton earns a point for forcing overtime and now sits at .500 in conference play.
 
By the Numbers
• Chakrabarti continues to pace the Castleton offense, as his goal marked his 17th of the season, leading the conference in scoring. That total ties for the fifth-most goals in a single season in program history.
• Wearing No. 16, Chakrabarti ranks seventh nationally in goals per game, averaging 0.77.
• Castino helped Castleton to a 33-23 edge in the faceoff circle, winning a team-best 10 draws to go along with an assist and a blocked shot.
• Facing increased pressure late, Ward finished with 23 saves, including a highlight-reel toe save to keep the Spartans within striking distance.
 
Up Next
The Spartans remain on the road, heading to WestConn on Saturday, February 14, for a 3 p.m. Little East matchup.