Ravens hand Spartans first loss of the season
A Spartan forward rips a shot against Nichols College Saturday night.
Christopher Williams / Castleton Spartan
The Castleton women’s hockey team suffered a tough road defeat and its first loss of the year at the hands of the Franklin Pierce Ravens 5-3 Friday evening.
It was the Spartans first road game of the early season and the team seemed to slip up toward the end of the game, and it was costly.
“We had some trouble focusing,” junior forward Taylor Steadman said. “It was our first away game and we really learned a lot from it and we didn’t want to feel this way again.”
And the Spartans did learn from their mistakes and avoided that down feeling again by bouncing back Saturday afternoon to pick up a 1-0 nail-biting victory over Nichols College.
Steadman was able to dish the puck to another junior forward, Rachel Bombardier, who found the net for the Spartans at the 6:58 mark in the first period. That goal and the terrific effort by goalie Jess Cameron, who made her third start of the season and slapped away 31 shots, would help seal the victory for the visiting Spartans.
“It was everyone’s effort that kept the score at zero,” Bombardier said. “It was definitely a group effort from everyone who was on the ice and I was just able to get the final touch in.”
With the Spartans having much success early this season, the next question seems to be, what will be the strength of this team going forward and how will it get the team to reach its ultimate goal – the post-season?
“It’s each player’s uniqueness and contribution that will allow us to have success,” Bombardier said. “Before the game today, we went around and asked everyone what they added to this team and our coaches noted that it wasn’t a particular skill, but it was more about supporting one another, being positive, and having grit. I believe that if everyone continues to contribute the small things they can offer, as a whole we will reach our ultimate goal.”
The Spartans will look to build on their victory over the Bisons on Nov. 21 when they travel to Manhattanville.
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