CASTLETON, Vt. -- The Vermont State University Castleton Spartans women's ice hockey open postseason play on home ice as they welcome the Keene State Owls to Spartan Arena for the opening round of the first-ever Little East Conference Championship Tournament, presented by Townshend Hockey, slated for a 6 p.m. puck drop.
 
Same Teams, Higher Stakes
Wednesday's quarterfinal marks the fourth meeting between Castleton and Keene State during the 2025–26 season, with the Spartans holding a narrow 2–1 edge in the season series. Castleton set the tone early in the year with a dominant 10–1 victory before the teams split a late-season weekend series. The Spartans claimed the opener, 4–2, while the Owls responded with a 2–1 overtime win in the finale.

Overall, Castleton has outscored Keene State 15–5 across the three matchups. Taylor Adams has been a difference-maker against the Owls, recording four goals, including a hat trick on November 22. On the back end, Olivia Carter has anchored the defensive effort with eight blocked shots while contributing two assists and a goal.

Between the pipes, Gianna McCusker has started all three games against Keene State, turning aside 54 shots and posting a .915 save percentage in the season series.
 
Fourth Seed, Home Ice
Castleton enters the tournament as the fourth seed after finishing 7–11 in conference play and 11–14 overall during the regular season, earning the right to host the quarterfinal. Captain Moa Carlsson leads the Spartans offensively with 22 points, ranking sixth in the conference with 11 goals and 11 assists.
McCusker has been a steady presence all season, appearing in 15 games with 14 starts. She has totaled 391 saves in 851:33 of action, giving Castleton a reliable backbone heading into postseason play.
 
Fifth Seed: Keene State
Keene State secured the fifth seed after posting a matching 7–11 conference record, edging USM by one win for the final playoff spot. Offensively, Brianna Finke leads the Owls with 17 points on 12 goals and five assists. Ellie Patrick follows closely with 16 points and a team-high 10 assists, while also pacing the defense with 73 blocked shots.
Playoff Familiarity

Thursday's contest continues a familiar postseason trend for Castleton, as the Spartans make their fifth consecutive playoff appearance after previously competing in the New England Hockey Conference. With home ice, recent success against Keene State, and a berth in the semifinals on the line, Castleton will look to turn regular-season momentum into a deep conference tournament run.
 
Follow Along
For those who cannot make it to the game, you can follow along with the live stats or at FloSports ($).