CORTLAND, N.Y. – The Castleton women’s ice hockey team scored three goals in a 2:36 span in the third period and defeated Cortland, 3-0, in the season-opening game for both teams Friday night at Alumni Arena.
For the Red Dragons, senior goalie Deanna Meunier (Parsippany, NJ/New Jersey Rockets) turned aside 26 shots. Senior goalie Jess Cameron (Mt. Mellick, PE/Brester Academy) made 27 saves to earn the shutout for the Spartans.
Seniors Rachel Bombardier (Pittsford, VT/St. Paul’s School) and Taylor Steadman (Hartford, VT/Elmira) and sophomore Hannah Rose (Kenora, ON/Beaver Brae Secondary) each netted a goal for Castleton, while six others collected one assist apiece.
The Spartans controlled much of the play in the opening period, outshooting Cortland, 11-6, but the Red Dragons dominated the second period, holding a 12-3 shot advantage. Both goalies, however, kept the game scoreless.
In the third period, Rose made it a 1-0 game at 8:05 with a rebound goal on the left side. Just 32 seconds later, Bombardier scored in front to give the Spartans a 2-0 lead. Steadman finished the scoring when she poked a loose puck over the goal line at 10:41 after Meunier denied a shot by senior Sam Pion (Easthampton, MA/Proctor Academy).
Score by periods:
Castleton 0-0-3 3
Cortland 0-0-0 0
Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists):
Castleton: Rachel Bombardier 1-0, Hannah Rose 1-0, Taylor Steadman 1-0, Ashley Pelkey 0-1, Brianna Ketas 0-1, Anna Daniels 0-1, Samantha Pion 0-1, Alyssa Brandland 0-1, Lisa Kilroy 0-1
Cortland: no scoring
Saves: Jess Cameron (Castleton) 27 saves (0 GA in 60:00); Deanna Meunier (Cortland) 26 saves (3 GA in 60:00)
Shots on goal: Castleton 29 (11-3-15), Cortland 27 (6-12-9)
Penalties: Castleton 2-4:00, Cortland 1-2:00
Power Play: Cortland 0-2, Castleton 0-1
Records after game: Cortland (Red Dragons) 1-0; Castleton (Spartans) 1-0
