The Women’s Ice Hockey team traveled to Harrisville, R.I. on Saturday to face off against Nichols College. The Spartans fell 3-2 in ECAC Women’s East action at the June Rockwell Levy Rink. This was the first ECAC win of the season and the end of their three-game losing streak for Nichols who improved to 2-6-0 overall and 1-6-0 in conference play. The Spartans fell to 3-4-1 overall and 2-3-1 in league action.

Castleton took an early 1-0 lead just minutes into the first period on Sophomore Hannah Martini’s goal. Martini was set up in the slot by Jade Werger’s centering pass. Nichols held a 13-9 shot advantage in the opening period, registering seven shots in four power play opportunities.

The Bison scored in the opening minute of the second period to even the score at one a piece. Nichols finished 1-for-10 on the power play and killed off six of seven Spartan man advantage opportunities. The Bison finished the game with a 33-26 shot advantage.

“We have issues with discipline,” said Head coach Bethany Torrice referring to the 11 penalties the Spartans gave up.

“You’re not going to win games sitting in the penalty box,” she said.

Senior Laura Szwed thought her team started out strong but failed to match that same intensity in the last two periods.

“We just didn’t have the sense of urgency that we needed to win,” said Szwed.

Torrice is happy with what her team has accomplished in the first semester but says the team needs to get tougher and be a more dominant presence in order to be successful.

“We have to play grittier hockey, and more physical [too],” said Torrice.

Szwed believes her team just needs to come together and believe in one another and the wins will eventually follow.

“We need to better our foundation as a team and then I think we will be able to connect better,” said Szwed.

Torrice remains optimistic about the remainder of this season.

“We just need to keep it simple and do the little things,” she said. “The sky’s the limit as long as we work together.”

The Spartans will close out the semester with a home conference game against New England College at 3 p.m. on Dec. 11.