RUTLAND, Vt. – Freshman Kat Reilly (Holbrook, N.Y./Boston Shamrocks (JWHL)) recorded a game-high six shots on goal and netted her second goal of the season but it was not enough as the Manhattanville College women’s ice hockey team dropped a conference matchup to unbeaten Castleton University 6-2 Friday night.
Castleton (7-0-0 overall, 5-0-0 NEHC) remains one of five unbeaten teams in the nation after knocking off the Valiants (2-3-0 overall, 2-3-0 NEHC). The Spartan offense was able to find the back of the net six times behind two goals and an assist from Rachel Bombardier. For the Valiants, Reilley recorded her second goal of the season and also found senior Kyra Herbert (Plainfield, N.H./Lebanon) for Manhattanville’s only other goal on the night.
After both teams went scoreless in the first period, Manhattanville jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second period on Herbert’s goal, firing shot from the point that deflected off Spartan goaltender Jess Cameron 2:30 into the period. Castleton ‘s offense responded however, beating junior Olivia Drew (York, Maine/Portland Jr. Pirates) three times in five minutes to give the Spartans a two-goal advantage headed into the final period of play.
Castleton would extend that lead in the third, scoring just over a minute into the period when Taylor Steadman forced a turnover in the defensive end and took the puck the length of the ice for her fifth goal of the season. The Valiants would cut into the lead with just under 15 minutes to play, when Reilly buried a rebound on a shot from sophomore Karly Kapur (Sparta, N.J./Sparta High School) to make it a two-goal game.
The Spartans put the game out of reach for good with two power-play goals late in the period to remain unbeaten and extend their winning-streak to seven on the year. The Valiants were able to outshoot the Spartans 32-28, but Cameron was able to make 30 saves on the night for Castleton.
The Valiants return to action tomorrow evening when they travel to nearby Norwich University for another New England Hockey Conference matchup. Puck drop is scheduled for 1:00 P.M.
