RUTLAND, Vt. - The Purple Knights (1-9, 1-9 ECAC East) were edged by Castleton State College (3-7-1, 3-5-1 ECAC East) in women's ice hockey action, 5-3, on Saturday at Spartan Arena. Saint Michael's wrapped up their 2009 schedule with a six-game losing skid.
The Spartans took an early lead in the opening frame, as they pulled ahead 2-0 with 12 shots on Purple Knights' junior netminder Alysia Goldman (Ballston Lake, N.Y./Hebron Academy). Senior Crystal Sarno (Stoneham, Mass./Canterbury School) tallied the first point for the Purple Knights when she netted a puck from classmate Desiree Biron (Bow, N.H./The Gunnery School/University of Vermont) in the first three minutes of the second period. The Spartans then recorded three unanswered goals in the period, taking a 5-1 lead. Saint Michael's refused to go down without a fight and made for a late comeback in the final frame. The Purple Knights held Castleton scoreless in the third period, but tallied two goals of their own as Sarno and Biron teamed up to assist senior co-captain Meghan Sweezey (Lynnfield, Mass./Lynnfield) at the 17th minute of play. Biron followed up with a goal of her own with less than a minute on the clock, receiving a puck from junior Kelly Rose Losi (Milton, Mass./Milton).
Goldman made 16 saves in net for the Purple Knights before freshman Erin Stevens took her place in the third period, stopping five shots on goal.
That wrapped up the 2009 schedule for Saint Michael's ice hockey, as they will return to Cairns Arena on Jan. 2 to host the Holiday Classic. The women's team will face-off against Colby College at 8 p.m. on the lower rink (Rink #2), while the men's team will battle against Morrisville State at the same time on the upper rink (Rink #1).
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