Women’s Ice hockey 5-2 at winter break

After coming off an overtime win on the road against Southern Maine leading to a three-game winning streak, the Castleton women’s hockey team came home to host its annual Pink the Rink game against ECAC foe UMass-Boston.

The Pink the Rink game was another game that came down to the wire, but unfortunately resulted in a tough loss for Castleton as it fell 2-1.  All three goals came in the third period.  Castleton forward Jade Werger scored to put Castleton on the board with just five minutes left in the game, but the constant attacks for Castleton weren’t enough even with an extra skater as UMass-Boston held on to seal the win.

The Spartans registered 37 shots on the game while Castleton goalie Katharyn Dembowski had 29 saves on the night.

But there was another game to be played the following day against St. Anslem.

Once again the team had to make it another nail biter, as Castleton won the game in overtime 3-2.  After a hard fought first period, Castleton came out in the second period to a fast start. Just one minute, into the period Nicole Ruman scored the game’s first goal and with just a few minutes left in the second period Danielle Roberts passed the puck to Meagan Hulbert to give Hulbert her first goal of the season. Castleton had the lead at the end of the second period 2-1.

In the third period, Castleton did have a little trouble by getting outshot 15-4 and letting up the tying goal with just five minutes left in the game. But Castleton held on with outstanding goaltending by Dembowski, who had 37 saves in regulation and would end up with 38 saves. Just 22 second into overtime, Werger finished the game with an unassisted game winner.

Following the home stand, Castleton was on the road at New England College where they shut out the Pilgrims 2-0. Werger had both of Castleton’s goals, one in the first period assisted by Roberts and Hanna Martini, and the empty-net goal in the third assisted by Roberts and Christine Newton. Goaltender Dembowski recorded her third shutout win this season.

The Castleton women’s hockey team played its last home game before break against Buffalo State on Dec. 11 in a tough 4-3 loss. Molly Howard started the goal frenzy in the first period by scoring 1:15 into the period.

Her goal would be followed by three Buffalo State Bengal goals. Castleton would get one more goal to end the period by Ruman to have the Buffalo State led at only 3-2. In the third period, Eileen Coyne tied up the game at three a piece for her first goal of the season. But Buffalo State was just too much by adding one more goal in third and holding it for the game. 

Castleton went to its bench after goalie Dembowski stopped two shots and had to leave the game due to an injury. That meant Kristi Holt would see her first time on the ice as a Spartan, making 14 stops on the day.

Castleton ends the first half of its season with a 5-5 overall record and a 5-2 ECAC record which puts Castleton in third place in the ECAC East Conference.

The ladies of the ice return to action on Jan. 7 when they host Plymouth State of North Carolina.

 

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