The Castleton Women’s Ice Hockey team is underway in their season and off to a strong start of 3-1-1. Last season, the Spartans finished sixth in their conference and lost to Williams Smith in the first round of playoffs. This hasn’t sat well with the girls and they’ve made changes to ensure it. The coaching staff brought in six freshmen this off-season; forwards Brooke Noble, Madeleine Corrigan, and Caris Erickson. Defensemen Olivia Carter, and Morgan Arscott. Along with Goalie Gianna McCusker. Some are making an immediate impact.  

The home opener was against Plymouth State on the Nov 6. Junior Rachel McNeil faced off against her own sister for what would be the last time. The Panthers had a quick start, scoring 23 seconds into the contest. They followed that up with another goal coming from the rival sister seven minutes later to go up 2-0. The Spartans rallied after the harsh first period with netminder Victoria Bakopanos not letting up another goal the rest of the way.  

In the second period, freshman defenceman Olivia Carter picked up her first NCAA goal in her first game to bring the game within one. Then in the dying minutes of the period, fifth-year Alex Johnson picked off a pass from a Panthers player for a breakaway which she slotted home five-hole. The third featured tight-checking and fast-paced play but the Spartans held the majority of possession. Yet, nobody could break the tie. Until, Alex Johnson once again gets sprung on a breakaway by a broken play and she made no mistake putting the puck up under the bar with authority. 3-2 come back completed in the home opener.  

Just days later, our Spartans hosted The University of Southern Maine, an unofficial in-conference rivalry opponent. The two squads always compete in heated matches, resulting in a fun watch. These two games were no different. The first was an extremely tight 1-1 hockey game that went deep into a shootout. Moa Carlson, junior assistant captain and all-conference forward last season scored first for the Spartans. The Huskies bit back in the second to even it out and the rest of the way was scoreless. The shootout went six rounds but ultimately went the way of the Wolves. The game Saturday evening was slightly more frustrating for our women in green. They fell 3-1 with the only goal coming from Carlson once again and too little too late.  

This past weekend Albertus Magnus came to The Spartan Arena to face off. It was a blood bath on Friday with a victorious 12-3 effort from the girls. Captain Emery Bonner got in on the scoring for her first of the season and had three helpers, along with fellow assistant captain Meg Aiken who had a goal and two assists, and of course, Moa Carlson who tucked away her third of the year along with two apples. A mention should also be made to Junior forward Ellie Schliebener who had two goals and two assists and is a big part of the top line with Meg and Moa.  

The girls came back the next day and came out with a 2-1 win in overtime. Freshman Brooke Noble scored first, she also had two goals and two assists the night before. Pretty good start to her career here. Albertus found a way to tie it in the second, but the girls would not go down. In overtime, Meg Aiken set up sophomore Taylor Adams for the winner. The weekend sweep bodes well for the girls moving forward.